Landscaping projects and access to outdoor spaces are vital for wellbeing and recovery, particularly among people with dementia and mental health problems.
Healthcare providers are waking up to the benefits of nature and giving patients, staff and visitors greater access to outdoor space.
And nowhere is this more evident than in mental health and dementia settings.
They are realising that the natural environment can be used more effectively to actually treat some mental health problems and assist with the care of people with dementia.
Research by Roger Ulrich et al in the late 1980s revealed that just 5-7 minutes in nature, or viewing nature, can reduce physiological indicators of stress, improve mood, and aid healing.
For healthcare providers this means a potential reduction in medication, fewer violent episodes, a reduction in overall anxiety, and faster recovery - all of which could help to save millions of pounds.
Feel Good gardens
To support the drive to improve access to open spaces within health and care facilities, this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show ran a competition where healthcare trusts could bid to win Matt Keightley’s Feel Good Garden.
39 of the country’s 54 mental health trusts entered the contest and the winner was Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.
The therapeutic garden will be at the Highgate Mental Health Centre, one of its two inpatient mental health facilities.
Andrew Kingston, the trust’s recovery service manager with expertise in horticultural therapy, said: “We serve older adults with mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and severe depression, or dementia.
“It will give these very vulnerable individuals a rare opportunity to interact with an attractive and well-maintained outdoor garden area. This is invaluable in alleviating their agitation and distress and contributing to their recovery.”
Matt Keightley’s Feel Good Garden.
Matt Keightley’s Feel Good Garden.
The design
The layout was designed to draw people into the garden and compel them to interact and engage with plants and other people.
Built by Rosebank Landscaping, The Feel Good Garden features at its heart a tall Judas tree, along with mature honey locust, which provide height without blocking views.
Foliage and flowering plants were chosen to blend in harmony and to provide year-round colour and scent.
Keeping active to improve health
For people with dementia, getting outside enables them to exercise. Evidence shows that those who spent as little as 10-15 minutes outside saw their health improve significantly.
Of even greater significance is evidence that indicates that keeping the brain exercised and active contributes towards preventing, or lessening, cognitive decline.
Walking outside three times a week significantly improves a person’s ability to communicate.
For those who are less active, just watching and enjoying the activity of others, and the daily changes of light, shade, sun and clouds, growth of plants, wildlife and so on has been found to be just as beneficial.
The Bloom dementia-friendly garden
At this year’s Bloom Festival, Ireland’s largest horticultural event, the Bloom Dementia Friendly Garden pulled a huge crowd.
It was a collaboration between landscape gardening firm, Newtown Saunders, TrinityHaus research centre. and dementia training organisation, Sonas.
The design
This is centred on understanding, togetherness and connection.
Clever use of layout, colour, planting and customised garden fittings create an attractive, safe and therapeutic outdoor space - all designed to tap into a person’s retained skills, abilities, interests and memories.
Plants from a person’s youth such as daisies, lupins, lavender and dianthus, help to trigger memories and facilitate reminiscence.
Scented flowers, flowing water and birdsong further stimulate the senses.
Zoning and colours provide visual cues, helping with orientation and wayfinding.
The accessible raised planter, mini glasshouse, tool shed, and vertical planter give easy access to gardening activities and further engagement with nature.