Something new is taking root this spring – “Therapeutic Gardening,” at the new Brain Health Center at what was the senior living home Wiscasset Green. Therapeutic Gardening is a hands-on activity to help stem cognitive decline in older adults. This effort has brought together ElderCare Network of Lincoln County and the Garden Club of Wiscasset. On the first two Fridays in June, Dr. Allan “Chip” Teel of Nobleboro will discuss his plans for reopening Wiscasset Green, 21 Washington St., as an innovative Brain Health Center.June is Alzheimer’s awareness month.

Teel is one of the founding members of Eldercare Network, a nonprofit that began over 30 years ago to provide affordable assisted living and support services to older adults. Wiscasset Green, part of the network, closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teel is transforming the building into a center where people can learn to cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. Wiscasset Green is housed in an historic home built in 1849, at the corner of Washington and Hodge streets facing Lincoln County Courthouse. In a telephone interview May 6, Teel discussed his plans and goals for the property.

“I personally like to think of this is as a ‘Brain Health Academy' ... where we’ll be engaging participants who are experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s in a comprehensive program. Our goal is improving their mental health to reverse, or slow the effects of the disease. The program introduces them to healthy nutrition, physical exercise, and has them take part in different brain stimulating activities,” he explained.

“Our program could also be thought of as ‘Brain Boot Camp’ because it is not going to be easy; the participants have to fully commit themselves to it and it will be challenging for them. From the time they arrive in the early morning until they leave later in the day we’re going to keep them busy and focused,” Teel continued. 

The idea to introduce Therapeutic Gardening to the program came from the Garden Club of Wiscasset. May 8, Geneie Everett, Terry Heller, Beth Maxwell, Emily Adler, Shelia Scott and Peter Arnold, all Garden Club members, gathered at Wiscasset Green to share their plans with Wiscasset Newspaper.  

“Our project includes indoor and outdoor gardening and landscaping the grounds around Wiscasset Green in support of Dr. Teel’s program,” explained Everett, chair of the club's Therapeutic Gardening Committee.

Arnold has volunteered to build several wooden flower boxes and planters in the courtyard and the Garden Club has donated two portable garden beds equipped with casters.The oblong metal tubs can be easily moved and are suitable for plants of all kinds including vegetables.Off the Wiscasset Green kitchen the Garden Club has placed a free-standing mini greenhouse where edible “micro-greens” will be grown and enjoyed year-round. Hanging plants for the windows and potted plants are planned that will add color and freshen the air throughout the building. The Garden Club has gifted the home a large fish aquarium as well which will be placed in the front sitting room that Teel hopes to convert to a library and reading room. Everett said the flowers both indoors and out will be mostly perennials.  Club members will also be raising herbs like dill, lemon grass, rosemary, sage, parsley and basil that can enjoyed and part of the Brain Health Center’s daily diet.

Teel, interviewed separately, was delighted the Garden Club of Wiscasset has expressed a willingness to get involved and he greatly appreciated the group's generosity to his soon-to-be-realized Brain Health Center. “My sincere hope is this will be a wonderful and beneficial experience for their organization and the initial folks who choose to take part in our program.”  Teel hopes to have five to six participants for the first month-long session scheduled to begin this summer. 

Kara Chase, program director of the Brain Health Center, shares Teel's excitement for the program and likewise greatly appreciates the Garden Club’s support. At Thursday’s gathering, she said minor renovations are still taking place within the building but two information sessions are planned for 4 p.m. Friday, June 5 and 4 p.m. Friday June 12.

Teel will be on hand then to share his thoughts, explaining what attending his Brain Boot Camp will be like. The cost for participation in the program will be discussed, too.  “For actual participants Brain Boot Camp might best be described as a full immersion experience with the goal of reversing cognitive decline,” said Chase.

Teel has studied the symptoms and effects ofAlzheimer’s for many years. “I belong to the school of thought that believes there’s no single cause for this disease; it’s brought on by various contributing factors. As caregivers we want to focus our attention on intervention in hopes of reversing the impacts of Alzheimer’s.”

In 1996, Teel helped launch ElderCare Network with the goal of offering affordable senior living in family-style homes, the first one being Hodgdon Green in Damariscotta that opened in 1998.The organization continues to operate facilities in Edgecomb, Jefferson, Round Pond and Waldoboro. Wiscasset Green, which closed four years ago, recently underwent interior renovations that included adding energy-efficient heat pumps to all of its rooms, in addition to the installation of 80 energy-saving solar panels on its roof.

“At some point we may offer overnight accommodations at Wiscasset Green for those struggling with Alzheimer’s in order to give the family members who are taking care of them a break that we refer to as, 'respite care,'" Teel added.

Several articles concerning the benefits of Therapeutic Gardening appear at www.gardenclubofwiscasset.org