Abstract: Objective To understand the willingness of the elderly in nursing homes to try horticultural therapy, and to provide reference for the implementation of horticultural therapy in nursing homes. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to survey 181 elderly people in the nursing homes in Panyu, Haizhu, Liwan and Yuexiu District of Guangzhou City by using a general information questionnaire, Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), and elderly people's willingness to try horticultural therapy and the suggestions. Single factor analysis and two-category logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influence factors. Results Of the total, 43.2% of the elderly were willing to have a try for horticultural therapy and 56.8% of the elderly were reluctant. Single factor analysis showed that ten factors including farming experience, experience of growing vegetables, self-care ability, etc. were factors affecting the willingness of the elderly in the nursing home. Logistic regression analysis showed that poor physical condition, inadequate knowledge of growing vegetables, self-care ability, and farming experience were four risk factors that affected the willingness of the elderly in the nursing home, with OR value of 33.790, 4.973, 3.538 and 3.407, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion The elderly in Guangzhou's nursing homes are more willing to have a try for horticultural therapy than other common entertainments such as chess and cards since it can satisfy the needs of belongings and love, and self-realization; for those old people that are reluctant to have a try, the main influence factors are poor physical conditions and farming experience.

Key words: nursing home, the elderly, horticultural therapy, entertainment, willing