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Connections with nature for people living with dementia

Connections with nature for people living with dementia The benefits of “green dementia care”, whereby people living with dementia are supported to connect with nature, are increasingly being recognised. Evidence suggests that these benefits span physical, emotional and social spheres and can make a significant contribution towards quality of life. However, care settings often present specific challenges to promoting such connections due to a range of factors including risk-averse cultures and environmental limitations. The purpose of this paper is to report on a project that aims to explore the opportunities, benefits, barriers and enablers to interaction with nature for people living with dementia in residential care and extra care housing schemes in the UK.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from 144 responses to an online survey by managers/staff of extra care housing schemes and care homes in the UK. In depth-case studies were carried out at three care homes and three extra care housing schemes, involving interviews with residents, staff and family carers.FindingsA wide variety of nature-based activities were reported, both outdoor and indoor. Positive benefits reported included improved mood, higher levels of social interaction and increased motivation for residents, and greater job satisfaction for staff. The design and layout of indoor and outdoor spaces is key, in addition to staff who feel enabled to promote connections with nature.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is based on a relatively small research project in which the participants were self-selecting and therefore not necessarily representative.Practical implicationsThe paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes.Social implicationsOutdoor activities can promote social interaction for people living with dementia in care settings. The authors’ findings are relevant to the recent policy focus on social prescribing.Originality/valueThe paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Working with Older People Emerald Publishing

Connections with nature for people living with dementia

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References (19)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1366-3666
DOI
10.1108/wwop-01-2019-0003
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The benefits of “green dementia care”, whereby people living with dementia are supported to connect with nature, are increasingly being recognised. Evidence suggests that these benefits span physical, emotional and social spheres and can make a significant contribution towards quality of life. However, care settings often present specific challenges to promoting such connections due to a range of factors including risk-averse cultures and environmental limitations. The purpose of this paper is to report on a project that aims to explore the opportunities, benefits, barriers and enablers to interaction with nature for people living with dementia in residential care and extra care housing schemes in the UK.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from 144 responses to an online survey by managers/staff of extra care housing schemes and care homes in the UK. In depth-case studies were carried out at three care homes and three extra care housing schemes, involving interviews with residents, staff and family carers.FindingsA wide variety of nature-based activities were reported, both outdoor and indoor. Positive benefits reported included improved mood, higher levels of social interaction and increased motivation for residents, and greater job satisfaction for staff. The design and layout of indoor and outdoor spaces is key, in addition to staff who feel enabled to promote connections with nature.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is based on a relatively small research project in which the participants were self-selecting and therefore not necessarily representative.Practical implicationsThe paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes.Social implicationsOutdoor activities can promote social interaction for people living with dementia in care settings. The authors’ findings are relevant to the recent policy focus on social prescribing.Originality/valueThe paper makes some key recommendations for good practice in green dementia care in extra care housing and care homes.

Journal

Working with Older People – Emerald Publishing

Published: Sep 17, 2019

Keywords: Wellbeing; Dementia; Care homes; Nature; Exercise; Extra care housing

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