Gardening at home can be a great way for people affected by dementia to stay active and improve their wellbeing. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or access to outside space, here are some top gardening tips to try.

Gardening at home can be a great way for people affected by dementia to stay active and improve their wellbeing. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or access to outside space, here are some top gardening tips to try. Gardening can be a great way to alleviate stress, boredom, and anxiety. Taking part in a physical activity like gardening can stimulate the senses and memory, and improve wellbeing.

There are simple ways to encourage people living with and affected by dementia to continue gardening and enjoy gardens.

1. Planting seeds 

Sowing seeds into pots or beds can offer a sense of achievement as the plants grow, blossom and bloom. You could choose plants to help stimulate the senses, such as smell and touch. Avoid anything toxic to touch or eat, and anything with thorns or prickles. 

If the person has trouble using trowels or other garden tools, consider using adapted ones, such as long-handled or easy to grip items. You might want to invest in some dementia-friendly tools, like the Easi-Grip trowel, available on our shop. 

2. Make the garden easily accessible

Consider rearranging any garden furniture or moving any pots to make the garden accessible and safe. If possible, a clear path with somewhere to sit down can help make the garden more inviting. It’s also a good idea to try to avoid steps and to have a gentle slope or ramp instead, although this might not always be possible.

Raised flower beds can also be useful if the person finds it difficult to lean down to look at or smell the flowers.

3. Creating a wildlife corner

Welcome insects and other animals into the garden by creating an area just for them. You could leave an area of the garden uncut or unpruned, or create a log or rock pile habitat to welcome the little critters.

Or why not try creating a bee hotel using hollow stems or bamboo shoots tied together? This could help aid conversation and encourage communication through looking for the animals or insects.

4. Garden maintenance

Tasks such as watering plants, deadheading, and harvesting vegetables and fruit, can give a sense of accomplishment. This can increase self-esteem and wellbeing for a person with dementia.

Pruning shrubs or cutting the grass could also be a good activity in the garden. Talking ideas through to decide what needs pruning could also encourage conversation.

Or why not dig out a paintbrush and paint to spruce up your garden furniture and fences? Painting can be relaxing and it can also give a real sense of purpose.

5. Creating, maintaining or topping up a water feature

A water feature could help stimulate a person's senses including sight and sound, as well as touch, if safe. It could also spark memories and encourage conversation. You could try creating your own water feature using a washing up bowl in the ground. Consider using something to fence it off to avoid any accidents.

6. Having a picnic or dinner in the garden

Enjoying a picnic outside can be relaxing and a change of scenery can be helpful for everyone. This could be in the person’s garden or another outside space such as a local park. Familiar smells and tastes of the food, and familiar sights such as a picnic blanket or tablecloths with flowers, can be an enjoyable experience.