The Centro de Medicina Física e Reabilitação (CMR) do Sul has, since the end of last year, a “Therapeutic Garden” that aims to “meet the rehabilitation needs of users, both in-patient and out-patient”.
This innovative project was developed by the Occupational Therapy team of CMR Sul do CHUA in conjunction with the other therapeutic areas of the center.
The objective is to «work a series of skills, not only motor, but cognitive, psychosocial, but above all, also functional, significantly improving the motivation of users, noting a more active collaboration in the general rehabilitation program» .
According to Inês Oliveira, sub-coordinator of Occupational Therapy at CMR Sul, «we believe that it is extremely important to implement a physical space that allows not only easier rehabilitation, but also the respective training for later integration into the community and for the user to be able to maintain this activity when returning home», taking into account that the majority of users present as a significant activity the participation in some type of horticultural space, such as the vegetable gardens in their backyards, being, in some cases, even a source of food or economic subsistence.
Therapeutic horticulture provides for the participation of users in horticultural activities, facilitated by a therapist with skills, which support the goals of the rehabilitation program by promoting physical and mental well-being through active or passive involvement in activities related to horticultural plants.
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