RESEARCH

Psychological Impacts of Intervention to Improve a Therapeutic Garden for Older Adults with Dementia: A Case Study Conducted at a Care Facility

The study found that 10 out of the 21 residents visited the therapeutic garden significantly more often after it was improved (Wilcoxon test z = 2.81, p = 0.005). Among these 10 residents, there was a significant increase in their social interactions (Wilcoxon test; z = 2.09, p = 0.04) after the garden enhancements.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Dementia/Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injuries

Setting or Context: Assisted Living/Long-Term Care Homes, Community Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Sensory Stimulation, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Case Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at how making a therapeutic garden better at a care facility in Italy affected older adults living with dementia. Researchers wanted to see if adding more plants with different colors and smells would encourage the 21 participating residents to visit the garden more often and change their behavior while there. To figure this out, they watched the residents in the garden for four weeks before the garden was improved and then again for four weeks after the changes were made. During these observation periods, the researchers recorded how frequently the residents visited the garden and what they did there, such as talking to others, looking at plants, or wandering. They also collected information about the residents’ general cognitive abilities, mood, behavioral problems, and quality of life using questionnaires given to them and their caregivers before the garden improvements.

The improvements to the garden involved planting more small to medium-sized shrubs and many colorful and fragrant bulbs to make it more visually and sensorially stimulating throughout the seasons. The researchers then compared how often the residents visited the garden and their behaviors before and after these changes. They also looked to see if the initial characteristics of the residents, like how severe their dementia or depression was, had any connection to how their garden visits and behaviors changed after the intervention. Additionally, they focused on one resident, Mrs. A, as a more in-depth example to see how the garden changes might have affected her individually, even though her dementia symptoms were getting worse.

Link

Meneghetti, C., Murroni, V., Borella, E. et al., (2023). Psychological impacts of intervention to improve a therapeutic garden for older adults with dementia: A case study conducted at a care facility. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1183934

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