Green-fingered care home residents have been enjoying getting stuck into gardening during lockdown thanks to the power of Zoom.
Residents at The Old Vicarage Care Home, Allithwaite, near Grange-over-Sands, are embracing the online world and taking part in a monthly gardening club, organised by Dignity in Dementia, via the video-calling software.
The 19-bed nursing home’s owner, Kamal Siddiqi, decided to trial online activities after the pandemic prevented residents from participating in local community events.
“It’s quite a social activity as the ladies sit together and join the Zoom call,” he said.
HAPPY: Ena making a pinecone bird feeder
“Hours later there is still a lot of chatter about the experience.
“Encouraging our residents to embrace new technology has meant they’re not missing out on the opportunity to interact with others.”
Resident Jean, 82, said adapting to new technology had been a ‘wonderful’ experience.
“I never thought in my lifetime I’d get to do anything on a computer,” she said. “To think at my age I get to do something like this.
CRAFTY: Jean making her Christmas decoration
“The gardening club is wonderful and a lot of fun.
“I think it’s amazing that we can see people who are far away, as if they were in the same room with us.”
Keen gardener Ena has also enjoyed participating in the club.
“I used to live in Hong Kong and the plants over there were very different,” said the 96-year-old.
LISTENING: Residents join the gardening club via Zoom
“I had a beautiful garden full of flowers that can’t be grown in this country.
“The weather was very sticky and hot there; I find it much more comfortable to garden in Britain’s climate.”
Even residents not keen on gardening have had fun.
Violet, 96, said: “I don’t much like gardening but it’s fun to do it like this.
BUSY: Residents planting seeds in dehydrated pellets
“We sit together and watch the lady on the screen show us what to do and follow her instructions. It keeps the brain active!”
The Zoom club has been running once a month since November and activities have included planting bulbs in a pot, making a pinecone bird feeder, creating a Christmas decoration using material from the garden, planting a pot of herbs, and the most recent activity of planting seeds in dehydrated pellets.
Donna Rowe-Green, the horticultural therapist who leads the gardening club, said: “The ladies that take part are so much fun and keep me on my toes.”
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