South Australian aged care provider ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) is joining forces with the iconic Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium (BGSH) to launch a new Health and Wellbeing program aimed at both older people and the wider community.
The initiative will focus on therapeutic horticulture led by ECH’s in-house Social & Therapeutic Horticulturalist Dean Gaston (pictured above), who says that spending time in gardens is known for releasing feel-good chemicals from the brain.
“Plants and gardens have a restorative effect, helping to boost your mood and relieve stress,” he said.
ECH Chief Executive Dr David Panter says the partnership will also continue to work towards new methods of creating strong community benefits for ECH clients and residents.
“This partnership is a testament to the benefits ECH believe there is in gardening and people getting outside together in the fresh air to enjoy being at one with nature,” he said.
With COVID showing just how important it is to look after our mental and physical health and care for others, we hope the program finds success.
