Avery in Bloom
It is well documented that being outdoors surrounded by nature or even spending time in the garden can benefit the body and mind and provide healing properties. Gardening has so much potential for people with defined mental health needs or those simply looking for a new hobby, offering an enormous range of activities and options, more so than any other type of therapeutic activity. There’s growing evidence that it can benefit our mental health, an essential consideration when many have been mentally affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For the elderly in particular, gardening can be highly beneficial, as it can aid muscle strength and joints, improve relaxation, and enhance overall well-being. And that’s why Avery’s care homes are purpose-built with beautiful, landscaped gardens, equipped with raised beds, bird feeders, herb planters and potting sheds, which residents can take full advantage of all year round. Recognising the importance of gardening for the elderly, Avery’s Well-being and Activities team host their own competition each year, ‘Avery in Bloom’. Run throughout the summer; the competition sets out to find the best gardening display across our homes.
Our residents were jumping for joy after becoming one of the winning homes for Avery in Bloom this year. All residents are encouraged to participate, whether they have an eye for colour, artistic flair, a love for gardening, or simply want to join in the fun. This year’s categories included, Best Overall Impression, Fancy Flower Pot and Grow Your Own Micro Herb Garden. With the tough job of deciding who came out on top from an impressive 25 entries were Sharon Winfield, Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Soper, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and Zahid Kahn, Head of Wellbeing. Speaking of the exceptional standards from this year’s entries, Zahid commented, “I know these have 50
