About Growing Together
Hello! My name is Emma Payne and I am an occupational therapy student at Huntington University's OTD program. I have always had a passion for the older adult population as well as spending time in nature.
Growing Together was created for my final capstone project and I have built this website to be an educational resource for others to learn about the benefits of therapeutic horticulture, specifically for older adults in residential facilities.
Here you will learn what therapeutic horticulture is, what occupational therapy is, the importance of meaningful activities for older adults, and how to implement this at a facility near you!
Mission Statement
Horticulture activities designed for older adults seeking greater quality of life within residential living.
Vision Statement
A community rooted in hope, support, and healing grounded in nature.
The Healing Power of Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic horticulture has been defined as garden-related activities that an individual participates in to promote a healthy lifestyle (Wang et al., 2022). For older adults, simply being near or in nature can yield benefits, which is why nature-based tasks can be incredibly beneficial (Scott et al., 2019).
Words To Know
Activities of daily living (ADL)
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parts of an individual's daily routine oriented toward taking care of one’s own body (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020)
Alzheimer's disease
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form of dementia that is characterized by a loss of thinking, remembering, reasoning, and behavioral abilities which interferes with a person’s daily life and activities (National Institute on Aging, 2025)
Arthritis
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a condition that causes pain, swelling, and limited movement in the joints and connective tissues of the body (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023)
Autonomy
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acknowledges an individual's agency, including their right to their own opinions, views, and their right to make choices based on their own beliefs and values (“AOTA 2025 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics,” 2020)
Cognition
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processes in the brain that provide a multitude of abilities including judgement, concept formation, thought, memory, attention, and much more (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2025)
Dementia
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syndrome that can be caused by various diseases that destroys nerve cells and damages the brain, which leads to a decrease in cognitive function beyond what is expected from typical aging (World Health Organization, 2025)
Fine motor skills
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small movements completed with your hands, fingers, feet and toes that help to us participate in daily tasks (Cleveland Clinic, 2023)
Frailty
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a clinical condition where an individual is in a weakened state due to changes in body structures and function (Lai et al., 2024)
Intervention
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facilitates an individuals' engagement in occupations and enhances health and wellbeing (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2022)
Morbidity
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presence of a medical problem/condition that impacts quality of life, potentially leading to physical, mental, or social deficits (Morbidity - An Overview, 2026)
Occupations
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daily personalized activities that individuals participate in to fill time as well as bring meaning and purpose to their life (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020)
Occupational therapy
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the use of everyday life activities, also known as occupations, to promote health, well-being, and the ability to participate in the important activities in life (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2025)
Quality of life
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one's own evaluation of life satisfaction, self-concept, health and functioning, and socioeconomic factors (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020)
Residential facility
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provides long-term care services typically for older adults with personal care, social and recreational activities, meals, and medical services (National Institute on Aging, 2023)
Sedentary
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a lifestyle where six or more hours per day are spent sitting or lying down and lacking significant physical daily movement (Votel, 2022)
Social isolation
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when an individual does not have regular contact or relationships with others and has little to no social support (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024)