As we get older one of the most common ailments we face is loneliness and social isolation. This isolation can lead to even more severe symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. That is why my program will focus on decreasing loneliness and social isolation through horticultural therapy, which is therapy through gardening. I have chosen this method because it sounds like a fun activity, and maybe one that is not as common among the elderly. I would like to focus my population specifically to those who are in assisted living facilities, or nursing homes. A review of the literature states that gardening can be beneficial to the elderly by improving their sleep, agitation, and cognition in dementia
