"Green for Grey"
Investigating the effect of flowers and plants on the elderly
More and more scientific research is showing that an experience of nature is good for people's physical and mental health. Nature encourages you to walk around, counteracts sombre feelings and is good for social contacts. The government wants elderly people to remain living independently for longer. That will affect the vulnerable ones, who are suffering from dementia, depression or loneliness.
Experience-oriented greenery
Phase two of the Green for Grey project will start soon. "We are going to investigate the effect of a 'green intervention', the planting of experience-oriented greenery and its use," said senior researcher Jana Verboom from Alterra Wageningen UR. "We shall measure the quality of life of vulnerable elderly people before and immediately after planting greenery and then again several years later. We shall also examine the burden of informal carers and the call made on professional care and other facilities."
Wageningen University is conducting this trial together with the Nature Assisted Health Foundation (NAHF), a Dutch/Swedish network of universities and innovative companies from the green sector that is focusing on the relationship between nature and health.
Green Agenda
The Green for Grey project is one of the six projects on The Green Agenda of Royal FloraHolland, Stichting iVerde and Wageningen UR. The Green Agenda is being financed by the Horticultural and Propagation Materials Top Sector of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Product Board for Horticulture. Financial contributions are also being received from a municipal authority, a province, a bank and a housing corporation.
Source: Royal FloraHolland
