Dean Kenshiro Nishino (right) pointed out that through contact with nature, the low activity desire of patients with mild dementia was obviously improved and their cognitive function was improved. (Photo courtesy of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital) The 6th International Horticultural Therapy Seminar was held in Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital on the 26th. Horticultural professionals from Korea, Japan and Hongkong, and experts from Taiwan Province Province shared their experiences in horticultural treatment of the elderly and dementia patients in Asia through special lectures and practical operations. Participants emphasized that horticultural therapy is a green therapeutic activity, and a green and healthy environment is beneficial to people who are sick or not.
Nishino Hospital has been promoting "creating a private school with survival value" for patients with mild dementia for nearly five years. Dean Kenshi Nishino learned about the brain changes of the elderly through modern instrument tests, showing that the older they are, the smaller their brain capacity, and the speed of blood flow changes can directly reflect a person's brain function.
Through contact with nature, people with mild dementia can obviously improve their low desire for activity and cognitive function. Dean Kenshi Nishino found that gardening therapy with the five natural and happy senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch, combined with the willingness to move, can promote the joy of life and find the true meaning of life. Happy intellectual activities, aerobic exercise and maintaining social skills can effectively prevent dementia.
Feng, President of Hong Kong Horticultural Therapy Association, published Horticultural Therapy for Silver Hair in Hong Kong-Exploratory Research and Example Sharing. She focuses on hospice care and the loss of the wise. She said that the biggest challenge is not being able to grasp the condition of terminally ill patients. I once met 1 bedridden cases, and despite the opposition of more than 10 family members, I insisted on completing the gardening treatment of combined potted plants by the bed and named it "Hope". Through this work, I personally told my family that I want to live with hope and happiness. As a result, it was not the patient but my family that shed tears. Facing the emotional part of the family requires skill and care.
Chen Jianzhong, chairman of Taiwan Province Green Health Society, said that gardening therapy is to help some people who need to recuperate due to illness to rebuild their bodies and minds, so that these people can regain their self-confidence and be beneficial to their health. This gardening practice is very common abroad, especially in some botanical gardens, where specialized departments have been set up to promote such activities. However, in Taiwan Province Province, only a few universities offer courses, and the promotion of horticultural therapy is mostly among the people.
He said that this year is the sixth international symposium on horticultural therapy, and experts and scholars from all over the world shared their experiences and understandings of horticultural therapy, which was affirmed by the participants. Nearly 100 students signed up this year, and the seminar was certified by Asia-Pacific International Horticultural Therapy Association 10 Horticultural Therapist and 1 Research Teacher.