title: Effects of horticulture therapy on nursing home older adults in southern Taiwan.
abstract: This study aimed to test the effects of horticulture therapy on activities of daily living, happiness, meaning of life, and interpersonal intimacy of nursing home older adults in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  
  A quasi-experimental study was applied. Eighty-five older adults aged 65 or older who lived in nursing homes in southern Taiwan were recruited conveniently. All participants completed the study: experimental group (n = 41) and control group (n = 44). The experimental group received horticulture therapy for 1 h once a week for 8 weeks, while the control group continued their routine daily activities. The following questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention period: (1) Barthel Index (BI), (2) Chinese Happiness Inventory short version (CHI), (3) Meaning of Life Scale (MLS), and (4) Interpersonal Intimacy Scale (IIS).
  
  
  
  The BI, CHI, MLS, and IIS scores significantly improved in the experimental group (p < .05). After 8 weeks of horticulture therapy, the BI, CHI, and IIS scores of experimental group participants were significantly better than the scores of control group participants (p < .05); however, the MLS scores of two groups showed no significant differences (p = .738).
  
  
  
  Horticulture therapy improved activities of daily living, happiness, and interpersonal intimacy of older adults in nursing homes. We recommend that nursing homes recruit and train personnel to lead horticultural therapy and to incorporate the therapy as routine daily activities in the facilities.
authors.affiliation: Sunflower Nursing Home, 476 Zhong-Xiao Rd., Pingtung City, 90075, Pingtung County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan. kmc@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kuei-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D058611:Horticultural Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Activities of daily living; Happiness; Horticulture therapy; Interpersonal intimacy; Meaning of life; Older adults