Gardens Calm the Senses

With an estimated 7.7 million new cases of dementia identified each year, and almost half of the seniors living in residential care affected, researchers are exploring therapies to address quality of life in these cases.  Rebecca Whear, from the University of Exeter Medical School (United Kingdom), and colleagues reviewed data from seventeen published studies, finding that outdoor green spaces offer environments that promote relaxation, encourage activity and reduce residents’ agitation. Gardens also offer welcome spaces for interactions with visitors, helping to stimulate memories for dementia patients whilst providing wellbeing opportunities for families and staff.  The study authors write that: “There are promising impacts on levels of agitation in care home residents with dementia who spend time in a garden.”