Dementia Gardens | How Gardens Help People With Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Dementia gardens can have a big impact on health and the quality of life for an individual with Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia. Most of us have brought flowers to a hospital room at some point. We’ve done it for obvious reasons. Flowers are pretty, they’re colorful and they add a little warmth to an otherwise sterile atmosphere. They’re conveniently sold in most hospital gift shops or at a handy stand outside the door. Bringing flowers to a hospital room is an old tradition. It is also quite a lot more. Dementia gardens have helped thousands of Alzheimer’s patients feel, and function, better. But, before we get to the specifics of gardening and dementia, let’s talk about the history of horticulture as it relates to general health and healing. The use of gardens as a therapeutic modality is…

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Ways to Soothe Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

Approximately 20% of Alzheimer’s Dementia patients have Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms. Depending on an individual’s dementia stage, living situation, physical surroundings and comorbid health issues, specific ‘sundowning’ times and bout lengths can differ. However, sundowning seems clearly related to changes in outdoor light, from day to dusk, and can last for several hours, sometimes into the night. The onset of Sundowner’s Syndrome symptoms tends to be during the later-middle stages of dementia. Sundowners Syndrome Symptoms Sundowners might exhibit any combination of its classic symptoms; they can surge to almost intolerable levels for a patient and his or her caretakers. Some symptoms can be hazardous to the Alzheimer’s patient and to those around them. All symptoms can be stressful, disruptive and upsetting. Symptoms might include: Confusion, disorientation Restlessness, pacing, rocking, agitation, impatience, anger, aggression Mood swings, obscenities, violent…

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GIANT FANTASY FLOWER ART PROJECT

A long-term project for the residents in the art class was making some giant fantasy flowers, inspired by the ones in the movie Oz the Great & Powerful. Ours were destined for the 9th birthday of the twin girls that spend a lot of time on the facility grounds. We made the flowers purple and pink because those are the girls’ favorite colors. The day we had the party to give the gifts, it was too hot for the residents to go outside. So instead we had a game that could involve the residents inside while the twins ran around outside. Rather than just give them the flowers, it was turned into a treasure hunt. The residents had half the clues. When the twins found an outside clue, it would say “X (resident)” has your next…

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