It is a long-held belief that time spent in nature can improve mental and physical health as well as the quality of life. Natural environments have the capacity to heal, rehabilitate, and restore. Today, gardens are specifically designed to help people suffering from dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe a loss in normal functioning. It is a wide-ranging term that may include loss of memory, rationality, or emotional disorder commonly associated with a person’s behavior. Dementia is a complex state with drastic changes in one’s behavior and functioning. Depression and bad mood, sleep disorders, verbal or physical abnormality, hallucination or false delusion are the symptoms of dementia. Although medication is widely used to cure dementia, therapeutic gardens that provide environmental support to the patients of dementia are recognized as an effective way to improve patients’ psychosocial abilities.
Dementia gardens are intended to improve the conditions of dementia sufferers. They are specially designed to maximize retaining abilities so that they may improve their cognitive and physical health. There are multiple benefits in setting-up gardens for dementia people. They help to recover from illness rapidly. Furthermore, Therapeutic gardens can help in maintaining normal bold pressure, improving sleep cycle, helps absorbing vitamin D. Horticulture and garden therapy also helps in reducing pain levels, alleviating stress and aggressive behavior, and control on medication. Human beings have a natural tendency to feel better in a natural environment. Where gardening has several specific benefits for people living with dementia, gardening or related outdoor activities serve many purposes. It is a perfect form of exercise. It increases physical activity, which affects the body’s organs and hormones which induce a natural sense of pleasure and peace. It helps in attaining mental stability through the practice of meditation. Other improvements may include better decision-making, self-discipline, self-worth, and confidence.
Gardens can be classified into two categories that hold healing properties. ‘Healing Gardens’ and ‘Horticulture Therapy’ serve the purpose of rehabilitation but in different manners. Healing gardens are quiet and peaceful passive-healing arrangements to meditate and relax. They help people affected by dementia via their sensing nature. People can escape their stress or anxiety in these gardens. They help to regenerate senses. They are further classified as ‘Sensory Gardens’ and ‘Meditation Gardens’. The sensory gardens are specialized to enhance all five senses of humans. These gardens have materials and plants that are specialized aroma, feel, color, and comestible properties. Meditation gardens, in contrast, provide an arrangement for spiritual practices which strengthen soul spirit and energy. These gardens provide a peaceful environment for reconstruction, relaxation, and meditation.
Horticulture therapy, a relatively newly adopted idea, is based on the active healing of the patient. These gardens are specifically made to cure people suffering from dementia and related illness. These gardens are maintained by therapy professionals and provide excellent garden activities. Horticulture therapy is a newly-adopted and widely-practiced system that helps to improve mental, cognitive, physical, and psychological conditions. These gardens include dementia-therapeutic gardens, mobility gardens, rehabilitation gardens, or community gardens. A combination of ‘healing garden’ along with ‘horticulture garden’ is best for people with dementia.
Healing garden activities are not restricted to any age or any specific stage of dementia. In fact, people can recover from gardening activities at any time. However, there may be different actions to be performed according to their dementia stage. People who are in the early stage of dementia can regain their normal mental and physical state in a shorter period. They can recover without even the specialized assistance of a therapeutical specialist. Also, they can perform diverse actions. They can take part in planning, planting, cutting, or picking flowers. By joining a gardening club, they can improve their social interaction. The process is significant as it helps in physical, mental, and psychological uplift.
Middle-stage dementia can be addressed by the same therapy. Performance of actions can be specified by some therapeutic assistants. Bird-feeding, garden beds, or bird-bathing could raise their sensory and psychosocial ability. People affected by dementia in their last stage can also improve their condition. They may have partially or completely lost their ability to care for themselves. However, they can still improve their condition. Even with less mobility, they can benefit themselves with the healing power of nature. In case of no or restrictive mobility, they can use a wheelchair or sensory garden tub. It is quite clear that gardening as a therapeutic cure for dementia can play significantly at any stage.
In order to create a dementia-friendly garden, it must be suitable for people affected by dementia. Firstly, they must contain elements that are already familiar to the suffering people. In this way, they will develop an interest in their actions and will not feel alienation. Moreover, there should be easy and daily access to a healing garden with enclosed perimeters. The diversity and variety of plant material are essential to enhance senses and perceptions. Sustainability of the garden is necessary as it ensures continuity of actions which is key to rehabilitation. Gardens should be properly oriented and pre-planned. This would reduce the future distress of the healing garden users. Furthermore, they should be accessible for patients and staff and should take care of weather conditions. Socialization plays a key role in rejuvenating their mental health, so there should be an appropriate layout for social interaction and solitude. In the same way, gardens should provide meaningful recreational activities to boost interest and the availability of fruitful actions. A garden where patients can recall their memories and share them with their fellows would improve their mood and boost their self-esteem. Nature is full of sensory stimulation; plants and animals which are most adored by humans should be preserved. Finally, the safety and independence of the patients must be ensured.
In a nutshell, gardens as therapeutic measures have been successfully adopted and pursued worldwide. These gardens have been in use since World War 1. They were used to cure the victims of war. With modern research in medicine and psychology, healing gardens have proved their importance. Nature has proved to be a better healer than medications.
