DEMENTIA Australia has hatched a plot to help people combat dementia.
The organisation launched its first dementia-friendly garden at a facility in Port Macquarie last year and has plans to launch another at North Ryde in Sydney this year.
Capacity development manager Gary Thomas said the concept involved combining gardening, which has already been proven beneficial for people with dementia, with sensory components specifically designed to engage them.
Specifically designed components include clearly contrasting areas marked by different colours and textures, clear signage with large lettering and easy-to-navigate pathways.
Mr Thomas, who manages the Port Macquarie Dementia and Memory Community Centre, said contrasting colours helped people to delineate lines and features so they could make out what different things were.
“There are raised veggie and herb gardens and there is a designated area where people can pick herbs and smell the different aromas,” he said
“There is also seating with different textures underneath. There’s one with beach sand and another with pebbles.”
Mr Thomas said access to gardens triggers memories and improves self-esteem among people with dementia.
He said he had already seen evidence of therapeutic benefits at the Port Macquarie garden.
“I remember one fellow with dementia who wanted to take his shoes off to bury them in the sand,” he said.
“We asked if he’d like to try the pebbles and he said, ‘No, I’m from Scotland. I grew up on pebble beaches but I love the Australian sand.’”
The North Ryde facility is expected to be completed and officially opened early this year.
Dementia Australia encourages groups to arrange to visit the Port Macquarie centre to see what it has to offer. It also hopes retirement villages and other organisations will be inspired to start their own dementia-friendly gardens.
- (02) 9805-0100, dementia.org.au