A Study of the Gardening Services for the Gardens of Elderly People in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

This paper includes the analysis of gardening volunteering systems in Sydney, Australia. Questionnaires were distributed and interviews conducted on service staffs, clients and volunteers at the gardening service associations of Sydney, in carrying out this research. As a result, the following conclusions were obtained. 1) Garden maintenance is a big issue for elderly people and people with a disability, as 91% of elderly people have their own house and 80.3% of Australian dwellings include a garden. 2) These elderly residents rely heavily on the gardening service provided to maintain the gardens. The services are able to convert their gardens into safe and low maintenance gardens with community volunteers. 3) The services produce a "secondary benefit" that being the opportunity for the volunteers to contribute to and participate in the community with the elderly clients and friends. Additionally, they are able to develop their own gardening skills through their service to the clients' gardens.