The drive for surroundings that enhance the daily lives and mental well-being of adults diagnosed with dementia is leading to more and more care and nursing home owners employing the expertise of Sensory Garden designers, as providers seek to enhance the aesthetic qualities of their facility. However, experts advise that there are many complications and pitfalls involved in achieving such a transformation.
Increasing numbers of people diagnosed with conditions like Alzheimer’s will ensure that dementia remains one of the key concerns of the care home industry for decades to come. Government initiatives, including the Prime Minister’s ‘Dementia Challenge’ launched at the beginning of 2012, are based on projections that estimate there to be 800,000 people in the UK with dementia, while an ageing demographic will ensure this number will double over the next 30 years.
In facing up to these unprecedented challenges, dementia charities call for the sector not to restrict its outlook to the practice of care itself. Chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, Jeremy Hughes, is among those looking for the UK to become “a world leader in dementia”, through achieving a “radical shift in the way we talk, think and act on dementia to help transform lives”.
Maintaining a Sensory Garden is one way in which providers can extend their dementia care vision and further help adults with memory loss to live a more active and stimulating lifestyle – itself a recognised approach to combating the effects of declining cognitive ability.
Kick-starting the Sensory Gardens movement has this year become the target of a ‘Planting Memories’ initiative, launched by Torquay-based dementia campaigner Norman McNamara (who is also diagnosed with early onset) with the support of the Lewy Body Society. The aim of Planting Memories is to see all UK towns and cities offer Sensory Gardens for those diagnosed with dementia to visit and use at their leisure, as a way of reaching out to dementia sufferers who might otherwise become isolated in their community.
Some local authorities have also taken up their own mission to lead the way in supporting adults with dementia, such as York, Newcastle and Motherwell, which are all attempting to become the UK’s first dementia-friendly cities – but care homes do not have to wait for national or local initiatives in order to lead the way themselves.
The recent New Homes Garden Awards has already recognised the innovative approach of design experts like Dementia Sensory Gardens, whose project undertaken at Nightingale Care, in Wandsworth, was successful in picking up two awards for Best Sensory/Memory Garden and also Best Development for 2012, while Anisha Grange, in Billericay, received a Gold award for Best Care Home. Parent company Tim Lynch Associates were themselves recognised as Landscape Architects of the Year for Care, largely due to their work with clients who have recognised the benefits of Sensory Gardens.
Dementia Sensory Gardens owner Tim Lynch is thrilled to see the rise in demand and enthusiasm for the Sensory Garden, but points out that there are many factors to take on board if care home owners want to make the most of their investment. According to Mr Lynch, the sensory qualities of garden developments make up only “one small factor of each garden’s design aspects”, and points out that a successful design must include an appreciation of technical aspects that are not merely related to touch and smell.
“Key questions designers have to consider include self-mapping, i.e. can I get out?, can I self organise?, do I feel safe? and can I recognise the door to get back in? Gardens must also be designed so they are good for the operations of staff and good for families when visiting.
“Care home owners are advised to seek technical assistance and advice to make sure they make the most of the time and money taken in the redevelopment of garden areas, for example many might not be aware that glass panel doors are no good for residents with cognitive issues.”
The Erskine Park Home, in Renfrewshire, which offers care packages for war veterans, is one accommodation where the benefits of a Sensory Garden have been felt by both residents and care staff.
Home manager Kay Lorimer describes some of them, saying: “The welfare and well-being of our veterans is of paramount importance and we are delighted that dementia residents have the opportunity to enjoy the specifically-designed and safe environment of the sensory garden.
“It provides a therapeutic environment for our residents to address some of the challenges associated with dementia, namely the loss of memory, independence, initiative and the ability to participate in social activities.
“As mental functions decline, our residents function more on a sensory level, therefore the redeveloped sensory gardens give them the opportunity to hear and experience sounds and smells of the garden through water features and plants, as well as enabling those who are able to become actively involved in gardening.
“Dementia requires stimulation of activity, which can come in many forms. The physical action of gardening is suitable for many sufferers, whilst other residents like to sit and relax in the garden in a passive manner.
“Split into four sections, the garden features many different aspects laid out in a format that is easy to understand with key areas and mapping points that can be easily remembered such as seats, shady locations and simple walkways. There are also water features and potting sheds which can be enjoyed by our residents all year round.”
Another example is Grimsby’s Yarborough House Residential Care Home, whose sensory garden has helped them to win the Grimsby In Bloom competition for the last five years.
Manager Marion Bourn comments: “The benefits to our service users and community members are entirely understated. To see our residents enjoy the garden, from the smells and textures to planting seeds and following to fruition, can bring a smile to the sternest among us.
“During the summer months, residents enjoy sitting outside with family and friends or simply tending to their projects in the garden. Raised planting beds allow people of all abilities (we don’t call them disabilities), to sow the seeds of their choice.
“This year a number of residents made a small vegetable patch, which was hugely successful. With an abundance of rhubarb, tomatoes, and much more, the kitchen was spoilt for choice with fresh produce. The discreet addition of wind chimes, gives that soothing sound in the wind.
“The idea of the sensory garden is to stimulate and tantalise every sense. There should be a variety of sights, smells, textures and even tastes. We have incorporated each of these themes into the garden. Non-toxic plants ensure that those who are tempted by the gorgeous blooming flowers are not harmed should they wish to taste. It should be an atmosphere of serenity that provides an escape with opportunity for stimulation away from the norm.
“For those rainy days, services users are able to sit in the sensory room, which looks onto the garden, with an opportunity to still enjoy the colours and sights, while discreetly keeping a check on their little patch of pride.”
Enhancing care environments to suit people with dementia is one of the key objectives behind £50m of funding announced last month by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Local authorities and NHS services will bid for a share of this funding, with successful bidders urged to make the most of expert research and guidance in order to ensure that projects achieve their full potential.
To learn more about the Planting Memories campaign see: www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1557529/torquays-warberries-nursing-home-embraces-planting-memories-campaign
Speak Your Mind