July 15, 2025, Perspectives in Aging Community of Practice

Members - FREE
Non-Members - $20

REGISTER HERE

Virtual Meeting 7:00 pm 

Number of Contact Hours: 1.0

Link to Webinar will be included in your registration confirmation email.

Summary of Event:

Title: Ageless Gardening: Cultivating Joy with Adaptive Techniques

Gardening is a popular leisure occupation, which can be enjoyed throughout the lifespan. Physical abilities may change as we age, however there is no need to stop enjoying the physical, psychological and social benefits of gardening. This workshop will share a variety of physical recommendations, tips for garden design and tool modification that can help the aging gardener to continue to participate in a valued leisure activity. Additional helpful resources will be shared with the participants for a more in-depth exploration.

Facilitator and Speaker: 

Facilitator: Susanne Giannitti OTR/L

Speaker: Sue Ordinetz, PhD, OTR/L

Learning Objectives Attendees Should Achieve:

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1)  Identify how various physical abilities relate to gardening tasks, and how to accommodate for age related changes (Person)

2) Identify aspects of the garden that can be modified to support age-related changes in physical abilities (Environment)

3) Identify tools and strategies that can help gardeners adapt to changing physical abilities (Occupation)

Bio/Background of the Speakers:

Sue Ordinetz is an OT who comes from a family of avid gardeners. As someone who also experiences the challenges of aging and chronic back pain, she developed an interest in maintaining her own ability to continue gardening, and also learned some tips from her mom, who continued to garden into her 90’s. While teaching assistive technology as an OT professor, Sue developed a workshop on adapted gardening techniques as part of a community service project with her students. She was asked to present the workshop to several garden clubs and for an annual Spring Gardening Symposium. Now retired, she continues to garden and tries to practice what she preaches.

This event is sponsored by Connecticut occupational therapy practitioners. ConnOTA is supporting this event by overseeing the award of CEUs for registered participants.