Tom Gregersen
Cultural Director
Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens
JAPANESE GARDEN VISITATION AND MILDLY DEPRESSED ELDERLY: A STUDY
AND APPLICATIONS
Larry RosensweigPresident
LFR Consulting
The Morikami Museum And Japanese GardensAnd
The Christine E. Lynn College Of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University
Funded In Part By The Institute Of Museum And Library Services
COMMUNITY NEED• Depression in older Americans is a common
problem
• 15 to 20% of older Americans suffer from some form of depression (American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health)
• Depression is associated with greater health care costs, poorer health outcomes, and increased mortality
THE GARDEN AS A MOOD-ALTERING ENVIRONMENT
• Anecdotal: Visitors to The Morikami report relief of anxiety, symptoms of depression when visiting the garden
• The “Healing Garden”: Viewing natural scenes fosters stress recovery (Ulrich, Texas A&M University)
• 800 years ago monks designed gardens for “spiritual transition” (Ulrich)
DESIGNED BY HOICHI KURISU AS HEALING GARDEN
• “Kurisu garden designs bring balance to hearts and minds by providing exceptional public and private spaces in which to engage with nature”
www.kurisu.com
HYPOTHESIS
• Walking in a garden environment on a regular basis or as part of a regular program will have benefits similar to those of art therapy in relieving symptoms of depression among elders
THE STUDY: AN OVERVIEW
• Participants were randomly divided among three groups
• Group I: Participants walked the garden on their own
• Group II: Participants walked the garden with a trained therapist providing “guided imagery”
• Group III: Participants engaged in art therapy
THE STUDY
• 3 six-week sessions
• 58 participants/subjects
• Pre-intervention data collection to determine severity of depression
GROUP I: WALKED ALONE• Met twice weekly on days different from
guided imagery group
• Participants were greeted individually in the museum lobby by the researcher
• After signing an attendance record, each was free to walk the garden at his or her own pace
• Some took 45 minutes, others all morning
GROUP II: GUIDED IMAGERY
• Met at The Morikami twice weekly
• Met in the museum lobby by the guided imagery leader
• Began each session with stretching exercises
• Walked the garden as a group, with “guided imagery”
• Each session lasted approx 2 hours
GROUP III: ART THERAPY• Met twice weekly for art classes away from
The Morikami
• Sessions lasted 2 hours
STUDY RESULTS• Symptoms of depression decreased over the
period of the study
• Both independent walking and walking with guided imagery were as successful as art therapy, but not more successful
• Walking with guided imagery was slightly more successful than independent walking
MORE FINDINGS FROM THE STUDY
• Walking in the garden by itself positively impacts individuals
• Telling or writing personal stories helps more
• A series of walking sessions is more effective than one or just a few sessions
• Structure helps provide discipline to continue garden walking sessions
STROLL FOR WELL-BEING
• Morikami developed new program
• Does not require mental health professionals’ regular involvement
• Designed and tested with FAU College of Nursing researchers
STROLL FOR WELL-BEING• Series of 12 walking sessions begins with
introductory meeting, mid-term and final meetings
• Participants pay fee which includes membership and gives free access
• Offering program this fall to group of highly stressed teachers
THE JOURNAL• Allows users to record personal thoughts
and observations
• Provides scripts for 12 guided imagery tours
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.morikami.org or e-mail [email protected]
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