DOWN MEMORY LANE
In people with dementia, the information processing of the brain is disrupted. Residents of a care home for people with dementia can be restless, withdrawn, confused, happy and sad. They often live together in a care organization in a department or residential group for dementia care. They consider this residential department to be their “home” and have a relatively high self-employed person (care-heavy package) or care needs. The memory of the past is central to the design of experience gardens for dementia care.
For these people, we set up the (green) outdoor space in such a way that people with dementia have the feeling of a familiar, safe environment. The way it used to feel at home. Where memories of the past relive. The outdoor area is also an extension of the care offered in the care institution. And aims to facilitate the core needs of movement, recognition, feeling and security in a natural way.
MEMORIES
In this green outdoor space, these core needs are stimulated by, for example, fragrant flowers, listening to music from the past and being outside. Where a pleasant feeling is experienced based on the memories that this music, smells and materials evoke. This makes the outdoor space an experience garden with a touch of memories of the past.
DESIGN EXPERIENCE GARDEN
What should 
you think about when designing an experience garden for dementia care? A design for this is very diverse; after all, not every person is the same and has the same needs, even if you have dementia. Adventurous residents stroll along paths (with separation) where fruit or flowers can be picked and worked in the vegetable garden at specially equipped locations. Whether there is sport on exercise equipment or “the clothesline”. People who like more peace and quiet can retreat to the designated pike spots. On the terrace you can recreate or catch up with others or you will “go shopping” in the kiosk. This design concept is supported by a diversity of devices from our range. Such as learn panels, flower and vegetable garden boxes, park furniture and exercise equipment. The planting is also tailored to the decoration. A tailor-made plan is drawn up for each project.
In addition to this design concept for experience gardens in dementia care, we have even more design concepts specifically for care & well-being:
- Forever Young, for longer independent living and vital elderly people
- Exploring Senses, stimulates the senses of visually and auditoryly limited
- Playing Together, outdoor spaces for people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities
Curious what we can do for the outdoor space of your healthcare organization? Please contact us for a free advice and/or request for quotation.