DIGnity Supported Community Gardening shares dementia-friendly tips

The people behind the DIGnity Supported Community Gardening intiative - a joint initiative between the University of Tasmania's Centre for Rural Health and three neighbourhood houses and gardens in the state's south east - have produced a handy online guide for other community gardens who want tips on how to make their space more dementia-friendly.

Project coordinator, Hannah Fielder, said tips in the guide include how to create a casual and friendly garden, how to make the space easy to get around and suggestions for different types of activities for participants to do during their visit.

She said gardens can provide people living with dementia access to fresh air, sunshine and exercise, and in turn help reduce stress, anxiety and agitation as well as giving them opportunities to socialise.

"When people get older, they may become less able to garden in their own homes. Often managing their garden becomes a burden and a chore, which is sad for people who like being in the garden.

"Many people with dementia move into aged care facilities at which point their access to the outdoors and to gardening further decreases."

The guide, which was put together with support from Dementia Australia, was developed alongside participants from DIGnity's gardening groups, including people living with dementia.

DIGnity sessions run weekly in Okines Community Garden and fortnightly in Nubeena Community Garden from September until May.

"We have had lots of feedback (especially from aged and community care staff) that people who visit come out of their shell and seem happier than they normally do," said Ms Fielder.

"Some get very much into gardening tasks and other really enjoy our fibre-artist's nature based activities and weaving, however, I would say the most popular all-rounder is picking, processing and preparing food to cook and eat together in the garden. We (almost) always make pizzas with veggies picked straight from the garden in the woodfired pizza ovens."

She said one of the tips in the guide is to make sure you include other activities in the garden.

"Not everyone likes gardening we found, so it's always great to have other activities like cooking or art to do as well," she said.

Here are some tips from DIGnity's guide:

In a community garden, small groups work together side-by-side on real projects and learning and sharing takes place together and participant interact.

Find a way to build connections between garden users, for example by displaying photos or notices on pin boards, or by sharing and displaying art and crafts made by garden users. If people have a sense of belonging or even ownership about the garden they are more likely to want to stay involved.

Sometimes people with dementia may feel unsafe, insecure or uncomfortable in the garden, especially if they are trying to do something unfamiliar. It helps if there are enough people about to observe and support people with dementia as needs arise. Having a quiet space within the garden to retreat to could also help.

The beauty of community gardening is that it offers lots of different things to do and ways that people can engage in the outdoors. Each person can find something to do during the session. It may or may not be gardening - it's what is meaningful for the person that's important.

So a variety of activities should be on offer - not everyone will want to work in the garden. Have options for those who have very significant mobility issues or low energy. For example, the DIGnity artist brings along different sorts of art activities, and they drink cups of tea and prepare a meal.

Shelter must be suitable for all weather conditions - but it still has to be open to the elements to some extent, so it doesn't feel like just another indoor space.

Consider different areas for different purposes and social situations: perhaps one space where lots of people can gather, along with other smaller spaces that can be quieter.

Ideally, paths should lead people through a garden. Walking along a well-designed path is a joy in itself.

Uneven surfaces can be challenging and people with dementia can be unsteady on their feet and often use mobility aids, such as walking sticks, wheelie walkers or even wheelchairs. You might like to provide some spares, and there needs to be space to use and store these within the garden.

Signage can guide people as they move about the garden and encourage independence. Having seats or benches dotted around the garden will give people options for stopping along the way.

E'at what you pick' can be a way of celebrating the connection between growing and eating, and is a meaningful and rewarding activity for everyone.

The food can also be a focus for coming together after the gardening activities as group members enjoy a meal together.

The preparing of food is always fun for people of all abilities to get stuck into. Invite everyone to participate in preparing the meal using - as much as possible - ingredients found in the garden.

As well as the tips, the guide includes video and links for more information. Access the online guide HERE.

For more information on DIGnity Supported Community Gardening visit www.dignitygardening.com

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