Therapeutic Horticulture for Dementia: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatry
• Horticultural Therapy

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is increasing globally, presenting complex cognitive and neuropsychiatric challenges.
• Effective management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in people living with dementia (PLWD) is crucial for reducing adverse events and caregiver burden.
• Exploring diverse therapeutic modalities is essential for high-quality dementia care.

Approach:

• This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on the efficacy of therapeutic horticulture (TH).
• The review specifically examines TH as a nonpharmacological intervention for reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in PLWD.
• The focus is on symptoms such as agitation and depression.

Key Points:

• Findings indicate that therapeutic horticulture is a viable nonpharmacological tool for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms in PLWD.
• TH is identified as a low-cost intervention suitable for implementation by nurses.
• The intervention is particularly relevant for integration into care plans within dementia care facilities.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic horticulture shows promise as an effective, low-cost intervention for improving the quality of life for PLWD.
• Nurses can utilize TH as a valuable component of dementia care plans.
• Further integration of TH into dementia care settings is recommended to address neuropsychiatric symptom management.