A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Horticultural Therapy on Level of Depression Among Elderly in Selected Old Age Home at Kanyakumari District.

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of horticulture therapy on level of depression among elderly in selected old age home at in Kanyakumari district: Materials and Methods: Quantitative research approach with pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design is used. 30 elderly were selected by using purposive sampling technique. The tool consists of demographic variables and modified geriatric depression scale. The conceptual framework was based on Modified Wiedenbach’s helping art clinical nursing theory (1964). Pretest level of depression was assessed by using Modified Geriatric Depression Scale. Horticulture therapy was given for 29 days every day for 30 minutes. Post test was conducted on 30th day by using Modified Geriatric Depression Scale. The data were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: In study group, it showed that mean value of depression was 16.1± 3.74 in the pretest and mean value of 12.7±4.00 in post-test, the mean difference was 3.4 is true difference and has occurred by chance. The obtained ‘t’ value 14.6* was highly significant at p <0.005 level. The level of significance was assessed by <0.05 level to test the hypothesis. There is a significant association between the level of depression among elderly with the selected demographic variables like number of children, duration of stay at old age home and frequency of visitors. Conclusion: This proves that due to the effect of horticulture therapy helps to reduce the level of depression among elderly..