AMSA-UCB Fundraising for Chaparral House

The American Medical Student Association at UC Berkeley is helping raise funds for Chaparral House this year for Giving Tuesday!  

 Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity designed to bring people of all races, faiths, and political views together to support their community.  This year, Chaparral House is seeking to fund the construction of a wheelchair accessible courtyard garden where our elders will engage in horticultural therapy.  

Horticultural therapy is the use of plants and plant-based activities to promote health and well-being.  It typically involves adapting and modifying familiar tasks to support people who would otherwise be unable to garden.  Research shows that working with plants can bring many benefits for elders such as stress reduction, improved sleep, lowered blood pressure, improved memory and attention, and pain reduction.             

In order to bring horticultural therapy to Chaparral House, we will need to transform our small courtyard.  This will involve:

• Creating a paved, wheelchair accessible space in the courtyard
• Building elevated raised garden beds which can be used while seated
• Purchasing garden supplies for the residents to use
• Installing an outdoor sink
• Building a new fence and gate to keep the area safe and secure

Once construction is complete, there will be work spaces for up to 8 elders who can experience the benefits of horticultural therapy during their stay at Chaparral House.  90% of our residents are wheelchair users who would be unable to garden without this adapted set up.  

Examples of Accessible Garden Beds

Sedona Winds Assisted Living

Salem Village Assisted Living

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital