Hebrew Rehab Center Garden Club Program

Wins National Award

 

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

 

ROSLINDALE – The Putterham Garden Club has just won an award from the National Council of State Garden Clubs for its program at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged.

The award followed a recommendation to the national organization from the Garden Federation of Massachusetts, which had just issued the 30-year-old Club a state award as well.

The Club began in 1972, following the donation of two greenhouse windows to the Center. The Putterham Garden Club decided to start a program there, with developing the windows the initial project.

The Center’s Recreational Therapy Department was hesitant about the idea of a garden therapy program, as likeable as it appeared. The concern was that it would not last, recalls then-volunteer and present co-chairman Phyllis Borkow, who runs the program. She explains that many Center activities, typical or atypical in this case, are envisioned simply with the residents’ benefit in mind. It made sense, so they tried it. "Residents have a new interest in their lives when they see plants grow," she says. "We are doing ‘cutting edge’ work in this area. Gardening develops an interest in living things and connects the residents to nature. Many residents gardened before they came to the Center, and it brings back their homes."

In fact, two years ago, the program was expanded into three workshops geared to spark interest and creativity among residents. Borkow, along with her co-chairman Cynthia Sneider, met with club members Anita Liebowitz and Theresa DeSantis to design a program of community events and themes. At Sukkot, a harvest celebration program involves children from a nearby synagogue. At Thanksgiving, centerpieces are made to decorate resident tables and in the spring, a tea ceremony with flower arrangements involves students from the local SHOWA Institute.

Residents have also recently created Putterham Planters, an "in-house" club where they serve as officers. "Forming a club within a club at the Center,” explains Borkow, “brings new interests into the lives of the residents. They like to see plants grow; in fact, they come down to the hobby shop and dining room to see the planter boxes, notice the changes in the plants participate in this gardening

activity."

Recently, the Putterham Garden Club dedicated a garden sculpture in the courtyard patio to resident Ed Rosenthal, who has credited the program with keeping him invigorated and active during his twelve years at the Center. A former biology teacher, the Garden Club program has inspired him to try other activities as well. "When I first moved to

the Center, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with myself. Then I got involved with the

gardening program,” he says. My advice to other

seniors: ‘Never give up on life’."

The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged is a geriatric care facility encompassing a 725-bed chronic care hospital, an adult day care program, a rehabilitative care unit and geriatric consultation services. Specialized housing for seniors and an internationally recognized Research and Training Institute are also sponsored by the Center.

 

 

"Jennifer Davis" <JDAVIS@mail.hrca.harvard.edu> | Block Address

To:    Susie@SusieD.com

Subject:    Putterham Garden Club story

Add Addresses

 

Hi Susie:

I am sending you a revised release that includes quotes of key people in bold. I have also

attached a photo  - Resident Ed Rosethal unveils plaque while his sons and Center President and CEO, Len

Fishman look on.

Let me know if you need anything else.

-Jennifer

 

Putterham Garden Club Wins National Award for

Therapy Program at Hebrew Rehab Center

 

Roslindale, MA - The National Council of State Garden Clubs recently presented the National Garden

Therapy Award to the Putterham Garden Club for their program at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for

Aged (the Center) in Roslindale, MA. They won this award on the heels of a state award from the

Garden Federation of Massachusetts who felt the program was worthy of top honor nationally, and

submitted it to the national organization for consideration. Phyllis Borkow and Cynthia Sneider are

co-chairs of the  Garden Therapy Program. " We are doing "cutting edge" work in this area," says

Borkow.

Over its 30-year history, club volunteers have brought immeasurable joy into the life of residents

by helping them make gardening a part of their lives.

One need only talk to Center resident Ed Rosenthal to get a sense of just how important the club's

efforts have been. Rosenthal, who moved to the Center 12 years ago says, "When I first moved to

the Center, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with myself. Then I got involved with the

gardening program." Rosenthal, a former biology teacher, credits the program with keeping him active.

His work with the club gave him the confidence to try other new activities. His advice to other

seniors, "never give up on life." In honor of Rosenthal's devotion to the program, the Putterham

Garden Club recently dedicated a garden "sculpture" to him that graces the Center's courtyard patio

and is a stunning example of the club's contributions to enhancing the Center's environment.

Borkow was an original volunteer when the program began 30 years ago. At that time, the Center had

just received a donation of two green house windows and no one was quite sure what to do with

them. The Putterham Garden Club was eager to start a program, and took on the two windows as their

first project.

According to Borkow, the Recreational Therapy Department was skeptical at first. "They thought a

garden therapy program was a good idea, but were concerned that the club would come, stay for a

week or two and, then, go," says Borkow. Today, it's still going strong and continually changing the

program to keep it fresh and innovative.

What is garden therapy? Cynthia Sneider explains it this way, "It is an activity that helps

develop an interest in living things. It reminds the residents of their own gardens and contributes to

their feeling of connection to nature. In essence, planting these small bulbs brings them back to

their homes."

A couple of years ago club members were concerned that their activities were becoming a "little

stale." They chose to replace a smaller program that ran all year long with three larger,

participatory workshops that would inspire and empower residents. Along with Borkow and Sneider, club

members Anita Liebowitz, and Theresa DeSantis brainstormed with the Center's Recreation Therapy staff

around themes for each event, and, as a result, club members and residents alike benefited from a

hugely successful schedule of events.

At each program, residents were directly involved in making something that contributed to a

feeling of community and connection with their friends and neighbors. A Sukkot harvest celebration

program brings in children from a near-by synagogue to work with residents. At Thanksgiving,

participants create centerpieces to decorate the tables of fellow residents and in the spring, students from

the local SHOWA Institute take part in flower arrangements for a tea ceremony.

In addition to the new program schedule, residents have recently created their own "in-house" club

called Putterham Planters at the Center with residents as officers. Borkow explains, "Forming a

club within a club at the Center brings new interests into the lives of the residents. They like to

see plants grow, in fact, they come down to the hobby shop and to the dining room to see the

planter boxes and to notice the changes in the plants and to participate with us in this gardening

activity."

The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged provides a comprehensive network of geriatric care

services, including a 725-bed chronic care hospital, an adult day health program, and geriatric

consultation services. The Center also sponsors specialized housing for seniors and an internationally

recognized Research and Training Institute.

# # #

 

 

 

Hi Susie:

I wanted to send this press release to you because I thought you might be interested. You've done

such a great job in the past of covering the Center.

Regards,

Jennifer