Gardening activities for nursing home residents with dementia

Activity is recommended for persons with dementia based on the assumption that human abilities and functions must be exercised in order to be retained. The aim of the study is to describe and evaluate gardening activities for persons with dementia. Eight nursing home residents with a diagnosis of dementia were selected. The participants were activated in an outdoor environment three times a week during an intervention period of 6 weeks. The activities used were gardening activities (i.e. watering, weeding, raking, and planting), walks, and social activities. The ability to carry out activities independently was assessed with an independence scale devised for this study. All residents were able to participate, but the degree of independence varied. Factors such as impaired balance and falls risk seemed to be more important than degree of dementia. Activation and rehabilitation in outdoor environments are suitable in the care for demented persons but should be seen as an individual treatment.