RESEARCH
Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Apathy in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This research paper looked at whether a program involving horticultural therapy (HT) could help nursing home residents who have dementia and apathy feel less apathetic and improve their cognitive abilities, quality of life, and how well they could manage daily tasks. The researchers conducted a study with 32 participants who were randomly assigned to either participate in a 10-week HT program in addition to their usual care, or only receive their usual care. The HT program included activities like planting, making crafts with natural materials, and even some food-related activities involving plants. The researchers measured the participants’ apathy, cognitive function, quality of life, and functional capacity at the beginning of the study, immediately after the 10-week program, and then again three months later.
The study found that the HT program was feasible for residents with dementia and apathy, meaning they could participate and the study procedures worked well. The main results showed that horticultural therapy effectively reduced apathy and improved cognitive function in the participants immediately after the program compared to those who only received usual care. However, these positive effects on apathy and cognitive function were not sustained when the participants were assessed again three months later.
