RESEARCH

Beyond Garden Design: A Review of Outdoor Occupation in Hospital and Residential Care Settings for People with Dementia

This review article suggests that outdoor spaces and gardening activities can improve the lives of people with dementia. Benefits included improvements in activity participation, social connection, mood, agitation, light exposure, sleep, engagement, maintaining identity, health, and reduced distress for residents, families, and staff.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Dementia/Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injuries

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Physical Health, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Metrics for Physical Health, Program Effectiveness

Access: Paid

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Summary

This article examines the role of outdoor spaces and gardening activities in hospitals and residential care facilities for people with dementia. The authors conducted a review of existing literature to identify the occupations people with dementia engage in outdoors, features that support their participation, and the benefits. The review included 19 articles. The goal was to provide health professionals and service providers with examples of occupations that are frequently supported in these settings to assist in planning or updating garden spaces.

The review found that outdoor spaces support a range of occupations, most commonly social activities, gardening, and physical activities. Benefits included improvements in activity participation, social connection, mood, agitation, light exposure, and sleep. Qualitative studies also noted benefits such as engagement, maintaining identity, health, and reduced distress for residents, families, and staff. Despite these benefits, the review noted that outdoor spaces are often underutilized.

Link

Ng, L., Oliver, E., & Laver, K. (2022). Beyond garden design: A review of outdoor occupation in hospital and residential care settings for people with dementia. Aust Occup Ther J., 30

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