Melbourne aged care operator Lifeview’s program, Planting with a Purpose, has been awarded the HESTA Excellence in Aged Care Team Award.
The award recognises Lifeview’s Hospitality and Gardening Teams who under the program brings together the chefs at all four of its residential aged care homes with the gardening team and residents to create menus and grow the required produce.
Once a menu is agreed, the gardeners and residents start germinating seeds, plant and tend to crops, and then harvest the produce for the kitchen.
The project has resulted in underutilised garden spaces turned into mini market gardens, growing vegetables such as corn, zucchini, radishes and lettuce.
Importantly, the program brings physical, emotional and psychological benefits to residents along with a sense of purpose and community contribution.
“The Royal Commission into Aged Care flagged food and nutrition in the industry as an area of concern. With programs such as this, we hope we can inspire others to get out there and grow their own produce, ensuring residents have not only meaningful interactions and activities, with a sense of ownership but a plentiful supply of home grown produce,” said Lifeview CEO Madeline Gall.
“The model of care Lifeview offers is based around maintaining independence as much as possible. The sense of purpose residents regain through this program, in an environment where there may be a tendency to want to do everything for people, makes this a very enriching experience.”
Lifeview plans to purchase garden beds, seedlings and worm farms for their residential homes with the award winnings.
