The Power of a Sensory Garden in Dementia Care 🌺
At Maple Court, creating a sensory garden is more than just planting flowers – it’s about nurturing wellbeing, memory, and connection for our residents living with dementia.
Sensory gardens are designed to engage all five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste – through a carefully curated mix of plants, colours, textures, sounds, and scents. For people with dementia, this kind of environment can have profound benefits:
🌼 Memory Stimulation
Familiar scents like lavender, mint, or roses can trigger long-lost memories, offering moments of clarity and connection. For example, the smell of tomatoes or herbs might remind someone of their own garden or home cooking from years past.
🌿 Reduces Anxiety & Agitation
Being outdoors in a calm, natural environment can significantly reduce stress, restlessness, and anxiety, often seen in dementia. Gentle garden sounds – rustling leaves, bird songs, or wind chimes – add to the calming effect.
🌞 Encourages Physical Activity
Gardening encourages gentle movement, whether it’s watering plants, digging, or simply walking along garden paths. These activities promote mobility, balance, and coordination – all while being enjoyable and purposeful.
🌺 Provides a Sense of Purpose
Tending to plants gives residents a feeling of responsibility and achievement. Watching something grow from a seed to a flower is not only satisfying but also provides daily structure and motivation.
🫶 Promotes Social Interaction
The garden becomes a space for social connection – whether that’s chatting while watering plants, sharing gardening tips, or simply sitting together in the sunshine. It’s a lovely way to build bonds and reduce feelings of isolation.
🌸 Supports Emotional Wellbeing
The sensory experience of a garden often brings joy, peace, and contentment – even in residents who may struggle to communicate verbally. It's a simple, natural way to lift spirits and foster a sense of belonging.
At Maple Court, our sensory garden is becoming a treasured part of daily life, and we’re excited to see how it continues to grow – just like the wonderful people who care for it. 🌿❤️