Our Programs

What our programs offer

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• Seasonal activities in our beautiful, half-acre Sensory Garden

• Educational and skill-building opportunities tailored to our member’s individual needs and goals

• Social engagement and physical activity

• Nutritious, seasonal snacks and meals

• Friendly, on-site, staff trained in dementia care

• A safe and enjoyable environment 

 

A typical day at Green Care Farms

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A typical day on the farm begins with the morning arrival of our members. We gradually gather together to drink coffee and tea and prepare for our daily activities. Daily goals are set and divided up. This may include: planting, garden care, harvesting vegetables, caring, and more.

 

At noon, we sit down and enjoy a nutritious lunch together. Depending on the season, this may include vegetables or fruits that we have harvested and prepared together. 

 

After lunch, we engage in a variety of different group leisure activities that change each day. These may include games, crafts, or invited guests. We follow this with a snack and hydration break.

 

Later in the afternoon we engage in some low-intensity movement and relaxation. We end the day by sitting down together to debrief about our day, including talking about our successes and challenges, our progress on our goals, and our plans for the next day.

 

Examples of Daily Activities

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Our activities are designed around the needs, abilities, and goals of our members. Activities may include:

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• Garden Planning and Design

• Planting

• Plant Care

• Horticulture

• Garden Maintenance

• Recycling and Organic Composting

• Vegetable Harvesting

• Plant Sensory Exploration

• Wildlife Education and Observation

• Filling the Bird Feeders 

• Meal/Snack Preparation

 

Our programming always includes plenty of opportunities for rest and hydration, in addition to low-intensity physical activity and sensory stimulation.

 

Targeted Outcomes

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All activities are planned to facilitate achievement of our members’ goals, in addition to several targeted outcomes. These include:

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• Building and Improving Social Skills and Increasing Opportunities for Socializing 

• Spending More Time Outdoors

• Improving and Maintaining Physical Activity

• Fostering a Sense of Belonging

• Improving Kinesthetic Memory

• Increased Nutrition and Hydration

• Retention of Fine Motor Skills

• Increasing Feelings of Self-Worth, Purpose, and Confidence

• Providing Care Partner Respite/Relief

• Helping our Members to Continue Living Safely at Home

 

How We Choose and Train Our Staff

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We choose our staff carefully. Each staff member is thoroughly screened and must pass background and reference checks. We prefer our staff to have specialized training in dementia care and experience working with persons with dementia. For those who do not have the required training, we have them complete this before they begin working with our members. Staff also receive a thorough introduction to our policies and approach to programming and care. 

 

We understand that starting something new can be a stressful experience. To help alleviate any anxiety, our staff members spend extra time at the beginning of the day to introduce themselves and the group to new members. This includes taking time to get to know one another, and carefully orienting our members to new or unfamiliar activities.