Moving into residential care homes can often be a daunting time with worries about isolation and loss of independence, particularly if faced with restricted mobility where getting outdoors can be a challenge.
Towell House is a large charity residential care home in East Belfast where they pride themselves on providing an environment which actively challenges their residents to take up activities they perhaps enjoyed in their past, or maybe start a new hobby.
Fiona from Towell House applied to the Alpkit Foundation for help with their Late Bloomers project to go towards the purchase of raised bed planters and plants.
“The Late Bloomers project is all about making our gardens more accessible and getting our elderly residents (65-100yrs) outdoors. We have many gardeners missing their gardens who greatly enjoy getting back outside and the health benefits both physical and mental to the elderly are immeasurable.”
A small award of £125 from the Alpkit Foundation was put towards these raised planters and it's lovely to hear back on how it's been part of facilitating residents to engage in these activities and use the spaces provided. This is not only helping new residents to settle in, but goes to greatly improve the wellbeing for all.
“The raised bed planters are within easy reach for our elderly residents now, so it has been of particularly benefit for the more isolated residents and reintroduced them to the outdoors, which was our aim. The planting has been greatly enjoyed by everyone and not only have they brightened up the patio area, but they have brightened up the lives of all the residents."