Out of more than 300 gardens across the country, the garden at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy, senior living community, earned Eldergrow’s Happiest and Healthiest Garden Award.
Eldergrow, a startup from Seattle, offers therapeutic gardening programs to seniors in residential and nursing care communities.
“The Eldergrow program has been wonderful for our residents. They’ve reaped several benefits from the therapeutic gardening classes, and we are happy to see those efforts rewarded,” said Diane Atkinson, executive director at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy.
Eldergrow offers elders a therapeutic connection to nature through classes on horticulture, culinary and garden art. Studies show that horticultural therapy reduces depression, improves balance, coordination and endurance, and lowers the risk factors for dementia by 36%, according to Eldergrow.
“This community is filled with compassion, and they do an amazing job in caring for the garden,” Eldergrow Educator Lilly Weissinger said. “This is simply a reflection of the care that they provide to their residents because if you have a healthy garden, you know you have a healthy community.”
For information, visit eldergrow.org.
