[Healing gardens: recommendations and criteria for design]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Environmental Psychology and Therapeutic Design

Background:

• The French Alzheimer plan emphasizes specialized units for cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-behavioural therapy.
• Healing gardens are recommended as integral components of these specialized care units.
• Existing green spaces in care units are often not specifically adapted for Alzheimer's patients' needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose recommendations for designing healing gardens tailored to Alzheimer's patients.
• To integrate a neuropsychological approach with artistic vision for therapeutic garden design.
• To enhance non-pharmacological therapies for Alzheimer's symptoms within specialized units.

Main Methods:

• Development of a specific garden concept ('art, memory and life') based on neuropsychology and cultural invariants.
• Systematic analysis of existing green spaces to identify weaknesses and potential.
• Evaluation of user and professional questionnaires to gather requirements and assess needs.

Main Results:

• The 'art, memory and life' garden concept is utilized for non-pharmacological therapies.
• Observed improvements in symptoms such as deambulation, sleep disorders, apathy, and aggressive behaviors.
• Established a framework for garden design based on user requests and therapeutic needs.

Conclusions:

• Healing gardens require careful design considerations beyond basic security, including accessible walkways and appropriate plant selection.
• A systematic approach to analyzing and developing existing spaces is crucial for creating effective healing gardens.
• User and professional input is essential for meeting stakeholder needs and ensuring therapeutic efficacy in garden design.