Mercy Place Montrose Creates a Garden for Everyone

Green-thumbed residents at Melbourne aged care home, Mercy Place Montrose, had a fresh start to the New Year thanks to the establishment of wheelchair accessible planters.  

With everything from lush tomatoes, zucchinis and herbs to beautiful flowers and succulents, the garden beds let all residents enjoy the benefits of getting back to nature, in a more accessible way.

The wheelchair accessible planters were made possible thanks to the generosity of the Andrews Foundation, which provided a $7000 grant to improve the men's shed at Mercy Place Montrose. Residents wanted to use the grant to establish a user-friendly garden along with the purchase of gardening equipment.

Mercy Place Montrose Lifestyle Coordinator, Deidre Halligan said the outdoor project was the perfect way for residents to enjoy the warmer months.

“The project promotes the outdoors and gives our residents the opportunity to embrace summer. The wheelchair accessible planters keep residents active, promote socialisation and help foster friendships,” Mrs Halligan said.

“Our residents love the new garden beds, and enjoy planting and maintaining the garden. We even have succulents growing, which we hope to pot and gift at the local market before Mother’s Day. It is a great opportunity for our residents to give back to the local community.”

“We are always looking for ways to make our activities more innovative, to improve the health and wellbeing for all our residents.”

Find out more about Mercy Health. 

Pictured: Bruce Saunders - age 95