title: Gardening with Huntington's disease clients--creating a programme of winter activities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A programme of garden-related indoor activities was developed to sustain a gardening group for people with mid to late stage Huntington's disease during the winter.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activities were devised by the horticulturist, working empirically, involving the services occupational therapist, physiotherapist, occupational therapy art technician, computer room, recreation and leisure staff. The programme was strongly supported by the nursing and care staff. Feedback on the effectiveness of the activities was sought from the clients, team members and unit staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clients' interest in gardening was sustained by a multidisciplinary programme of indoor growing and using plant products in creative activities, computing and group projects. The clients enjoyed all activities except one that they said lacked contact with plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inexpensive programme of activities enabled creativity and self-expression, stimulated social contact and helped with therapeutic goals of the clients. In addition, it engaged the multi-disciplinary team and the unit staff, was practical and enhanced the environment.
authors.affiliation: Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, Research, West Hill, Putney, London, SW15 3SW, UK. jspring@rhn.org.uk
authors.forename: Josephine Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Loreane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dauya
authors.forename: Ivie
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ewemade
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Prina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stoy
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viera
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Will
mesh_terms: D003405:Creativity; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012621:Seasons