After the interviews, I started doing more in-depth research into the specifics of designing the outdoor space for people with dementia. I stumbled upon various guidelines and articles that helped me better understand everyday struggles of people living with dementia as well as the challenges of providing proper care for them. 

Many experts support the long-held view that our natural surroundings can have a profound effect on people’s health and well-being. Outdoor environments are therefore being increasingly re-introduced as an important support tool in the care and behaviour management, contributing to the quality of life of people with dementia. Gardens created specifically to support people with dementia provide an opportunity for therapeutic activities designed to maximise retained cognitive and physical abilities, and lessen the confusion and agitation often associated with the condition.

There are quite a few guidelines regarding garden design for people with dementia. The space should be designed as sustainably as possible, with undemanding, self-sufficient plants and the collection of rainwater and compost, which can be used for watering and fertilizing. The garden design should include clear markings for entrances and exits, in different colours for different parts of the garden, and allow the staff to have constant control over what is happening. The paths should be slip resistant, wide enough for wheelchairs to pass one another easily and shaped in circles, as this encourages walking, reduces confusion and gives the impression of a larger space. For additional orientation, various recognizable and colourful objects can be used. A garden that enables users to orient themselves through visual cues gives the residents the opportunity to gain a sense of control and in turn self-confidence. Along the paths, there should be handrails, adequate lighting and a place to rest with suitable seats and shade.

People with early onset of dementia still have the energy and desire to remain active and involved in the world around them. Throughout our lives, we develop activities and interests, hobbies, skills and talents that give our life structure and meaning, and provide a sense of worth. We should therefore encourage various activities in the garden and attract people to interact with nature on a daily basis. One way to achieve this is to build raised garden beds, which make gardening, an activity familiar to most residents, easier for the elderly and people in wheelchairs. It is always good to involve animals as research shows they have many therapeutic effects on people with dementia. Apart from scheduled dog visits, ponds and bird feeders can also prove beneficial.

With various safe, fragrant plants and water fountains we can add sensory stimulation to the garden. It is good to use some familiar objects, such as an old wheelbarrow planted with flowers. The garden is also a place to socialize, so we can include several areas in the shade with tables and chairs, where various connecting activities can take place in spring and summer.

Two of the best examples of such gardens can be seen in the pictures below: the award-winning gardens Sensory Dementia Garden in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex and William E. Carter School Sensory Garden (although made for people with special needs, it follows the guidelines that are similar to those for dementia gardens).