Trellis factsheet Dementia and Gardening is a starting point for anyone gardening with people with dementia or interested in developing or setting up a garden for people with dementia. It contains general information on dementia and the importance of garden activities for health & well being; garden design; planting and garden activities and provides resources and references for further in depth reading.
Taster Sessions
Occasionally, Trellis is awarded funding to provide garden 'taster' sessions to organisations and groups involved in the care of those with dementia. These are informal, fun and offer 'hands on' gardening session for carers to enjoy and also be inspired to carry out at home or in their workplace.
Session topics include:
windowsill growing (seed sprouting and salad boxes) ;
container growing - herb planters
and, for the autumn, indoor bulb planting.
Please contact us if you are interested in these sessions.
Alzheimer Scotland is the national charity for action on dementia. Their Memory Bus provided insightful advice on all aspects of dementia for our delegates at the Trellis Therapeutic Gardening Conference 2015. They also shared their experiences of supporting people with dementia to live well through gardening.
To join in the fun at their their cafes and community activties, visit the Alzheimer Scotland webpages to see whats on near you, at www.alzscot.org
Garden design for dementia
The Dementia Services Developent Centre DSDC, University of Stirling, has published two books on dementia and garden design: Designing outdoor spaces for people with dementia by Pollock, A. and Marshall, M. (eds.) (2012) available at Amazon Designing Balconies, Roof Terraces and Roof Gardens for People with Dementia by Annie Pollock & Mary Marshall http://www.dementiashop.co.uk/products/designing-balconies-roof-terraces...
The DSDC also hosts a library of publications on dementia and caring for those with dementia, available at http://www.dementia.stir.ac.uk/information/library
Garuth Chalfont is a specialist in garden design for people with dementia. See his resources and Open University podcasts on the site www.chalfontdesign.com