Aged care residents dig in for healthy lifestyle

AGED care residents at Beechworth Health Service (BHS) are set to get active in a new edible garden by growing their own fresh produce. Stringybark Lodge resident Betty Dobson, 84, was thrilled to cut the ribbon on her birthday to launch the official opening of the new edible garden on Tuesday. A launch took place at both The Acacias and Stringybark Lodge for the garden project. Health promotion office Bernadette McCann said the BHS edible garden team comprised residents of both The Acacias and Stringybark Lodge and staff who maintain BHS gardens. “They have been busy installing and creating what will be a flavour and fragrant filled garden for the residents to be active, engaged and stimulated,” she said. Both The Acacias and Stringybark Lodge residents had been consulted from the initial design stages through to decision-making around edible plant choices including flowers suitable for the environment. BHS board chair Isabel Paton said the project started around 12 months ago with a $65,000 grant from Vic Health as part of the ‘Public Sector Residential Aged Care Sector (PSRACS) and Community Kitchen Garden Initiative’. Dr Paton said the gardens catered for all levels of physical ability for residents who enjoy gardening where raised garden beds had been included as well. “Many residents have come from places where they have had gardens that were their passion,” she said. “The edible gardens are a really great way to help people have a healthy and nutritious diet.” Dr Paton said by growing their own edible plants, the produce can be harvested to prepare meals in the kitchen for residents. “It’s also a really fantastic outdoor activity and good both physically and mentally for residents," she said. “It's a really great way to get people out and about and participate in something they might have been really interested in previously, or maybe some residents will find their green thumb and their passion.” For BHS chief executive Sharon Walsh, the edible garden is a way to bring all residents together. “It’s an open activity, particularly in spring and summer where they can get out and do gardening,” she said. With kitchen appliances such as thermomixers, Ms Walsh said they undertake a little cooking too. “It lends into that lifestyle component of it as well which is really important,” she said. Stringy Bark Lodge resident Lorraine Whitehead and part of the project garden team had been a passionate gardener before moving into the accommodation facility around two years ago. “I love to see plants growing and has given me that feeling of doing something worthwhile,” she said. “It’s lovely to be active outside and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes.” Aged care residents and staff enjoyed a delicious morning tea at the Stringybark Lodge launch while The Acacias residents enjoyed a launch of their edible garden and an afternoon tea with staff later in the day.

Aged care residents dig in for healthy lifestyle

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