Impact of horticulture therapy on sleep quality in geriatrics

Sleep problems are common in the elderly, affecting overall health and well-being. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test study was conducted among 50 elderly in geriatric homes of Gujarat, where participants received six weeks of horticulture therapy. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data showed significant improvement, with severe sleep problems reducing from 92% to 0% and most participants shifting to mild or moderate categories (t = 27.768, p < 0.001). Thus, we show that horticulture therapy is an effective, safe and low-cost non-pharmacological intervention to enhance sleep quality in older adults.