Horticultural therapy impact on people with dementia

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Therapeutic Recreation
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• Dementia care often involves activities and therapies to support individuals as the disease progresses.
• Horticultural therapy (HT) is a widely accepted intervention for people with dementia (PWD) due to its connection with nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of HT with other activities in enhancing emotional and communication measures for PWD.
• To assess whether HT increases "positive actions" (communication and guided activity engagement) more than other activities.

Main Methods:

• A 10-week study involving 51 PWD in adult day care centers (ADCCs) and a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).
• Participants engaged in structured HT and other activities.
• Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) and questionnaires were used for assessment.

Main Results:

• HT activities resulted in significantly higher levels of mood and behavior compared to other activities.
• Communication and functional actions were also notably higher during HT sessions.

Conclusions:

• Horticultural therapy demonstrates significant therapeutic benefits for people with dementia, irrespective of prior gardening experience.
• The findings support the increased integration of HT in facilities serving PWD.