Gardens for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
One specific area of mental health in which therapeutic horticulture has found
a place is the care and treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s
disease and other forms of dementia.
Gardens have been...
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Gardens for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
One specific area of mental health in which therapeutic horticulture has found
a place is the care and treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s
disease and other forms of dementia.
Gardens have been designed that
provide a safe and stimulating environment for patients and sensory stimuli
associated with gardens and gardening have been used to provoke memories
in reminiscence therapy.
The actual design of the garden is of great
importance and there has been a lot of interest and research in this aspect.
Here are just a few examples of some interesting and thought-provoking work.
The Garden as a Paradise:
Beckwith and Gilster (1997) suggest a model for a ‘paradise’ garden which
has four key elements - enclosing wall, water, canopy, and hill.
The enclosing
wall is of particular significance because it creates the space of the garden
and it is a feature of many gardens designed specifically for patients with
Alzheimer’s disease.
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