January 16, 2019
When someone develops Alzheimer’s Disease, they will start to experience symptoms of Dementia. The symptoms will worsen as the disease progresses, which can cause the individual to feel confused and agitated. They may also struggle to perform daily tasks or remember the names of friends and family due to decreased cognitive function. Individuals with moderate to severe dementia can feel incredibly down and stressed because of this, and so it is important to give individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease a place to calm down in peaceful surroundings. This is where a Dementia Sensory Garden comes in.
What is a Dementia Friendly Garden?
A Dementia Garden, or Memory Garden, is a special type of garden that is designed to limit and control the symptoms of Dementia. This is done by attempting to reignite memories within the individual and help ground them to reality during times when they might feel detached and disoriented. For example, a good idea for the dementia garden of an old sailor would be to have a seaside theme, complete with beach huts, mini boats and lifesavers, such as this one from Urban Landscapes.
Designing sensory landscapes for dementia
Try to incorporate plants and flowers that the person used to love, or that were part of their childhood. You could even try playing the person’s favourite music into the garden very softly. Music has been known to jog dementia sufferers’ memories quite effectively and UK charity, Dementia UK, detail the benefits of music therapy on their website. These simple acts might be enough to jog their memory and make them smile. At the very least, it will help them to relax and ease the stress of living with such a horrible disease.
However, because a person who is suffering from Dementia is likely to be very vulnerable, please do make sure that the garden is safe for them. Avoid high steps, sharp edges, or uneven paths, as these could easily cause them to fall over and hurt themselves. Make sure to pay special attention to slippery and reflective surfaces and do your best to limit/eliminate these. For a comprehensive guide on how to design a dementia-friendly garden, check out this blog post from the Unforgettable charity.
Further information on Dementia
If you are not aware of the symptoms of Dementia, then the Alzheimer’s Society has put together an incredibly useful guide on things to look out for. Catching the disease in its early stages can mean that you save more of the individual’s memories and personality.
