The use of every day objects and familiar things, including poems,
folklore and songs to stimulate the minds of individuals.
We use plants, flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well as plant folklore and facts to stimulate the minds of residents in long-term care facilities. Colorful display tables are set up and are filled with items grown in gardens, dried material, home canned vegetables, house plants and tools. When the residents enter the room you can see smiles and hear reactions. Conversation with the residents is encouraged by short statements and questions. The plants are passed around for smelling and touching, this also helps stimulate the residents and encourages them to share their memories with us.
This project focuses on items that will bring back memories and the use of seasonal items. For example in the of 2002 we used apples, pumpkins, potatoes, gourds and black walnuts. Flowers included mums and fall wildflowers. Items that are aromatic for the sense of smell (essential oils, smelling salts, spices and flowers).
Humorous facts and folklore are share with the residents often telling us how certain plant material was used in the past. Examples include sassafras teas, and drying of green beans (called leather britches) as a method of preserving them.
This project won an award in the innovative category at the 2003 spring WVMGA conference.
