Gardening projects for People with Alzheimer's Disease: I would like to suggest contacting the Chase Nursing Home in New

» Wen - I would like to suggest contacting the Chase Nursing Home in New

I would like to suggest contacting the Chase Nursing Home in New Berlin, NY. My grandmother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimers, spent many years there before she passed away. They have the most incredible nursing home that I have ever had the opportunity to visit. They developed a program called the "Eden Alternative" which creates a wholesome and "homey" enironment for their patients. They have several dogs (including a greyhound!) and many cats which roam freely for the enjoyment of their patients. They have many rabbits and hundreds of birds, many of which are located in cages in the actual rooms of the patients. They also have pre-schoolers come in every morning from a day care center (which both the patients and the children love!) to play games and sing with the patients.

The specific reason that I mention them is that they also have a gardening program. They have the patients tend the plants inside the building, of which there are many. But they also grow many vegetables and other plants outdoors in raised beds for the residents to take care of. Even those in wheel chairs get involved with the process. The gardens have wide paved "walk" ways that make it easy for them to maneuver around. I know that they use many gardening projects and tools designed for children, and since usually there are children helping with the project, it works out great. The projects are not too difficult or frustrating and they get out in the sunshine and dirt. They love it.

The Eden Alternative/Chase Memorial Nursing Home has appeared on television programs, in the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. The doctor that developed the program at Chase (Dr. Thomas) has actually left to pursue developing and distributing the Eden Alternative methodology.
You could also try contacting him directly.

Their website is : http://www.edenalt.com/

You can also contact them by:

Telephone: 607-674-5232
Fax:
607-674-6723
Post:
The Eden Alternative
742 Turnpike Road
Sherburne, NY 13460

Wen Zientek

Desserts Editor

-- posted by Wen