photo from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYknx1ga_qQ
The “Living Well with Dementia” research project looked at what happens when dementia therapy is moved out of indoor clinical spaces and into a dementia supportive public garden the 5 Senses Garden at Rhodes Park Sydney. Over ten workshops people living with dementia and the people who support them family friends and paid carers took part in art therapy music therapy therapeutic horticulture and mindfulness in an enclosed but public greenspace. The project explored how this environment affected wellbeing relationships social connection and a sense of belonging in the community.
The Key Findings
The research found that holding dementia focused therapies in a well designed public garden brought clear benefits for both people living with dementia and their carers. Participants consistently reported feeling calmer happier more rested and more connected to the world after spending time in the garden. Carers noticed reduced agitation better mood and even better sleep for the person they support as well as these benefits for themselves. The workshops also strengthened relationships between people living with dementia and their carers. Shared experiences like painting in the sun listening to music dancing together or walking slowly through the kitchen garden helped couples, parents, and adult children reconnect beyond the “care task” relationship. Being in an ordinary beautiful place rather than a hospital or clinic also helped people feel less like “patients” and more like valued community members.
Why Does This Matter for Dementia Inclusive Design?
This project shows that dementia inclusive design is not just about buildings it is about everyday public places where people can feel safe welcome and included. The 5 Senses Garden worked well as it combined accessible paths clear routes fences and amenities toilets seating parking with rich sensory experiences social opportunities and a non clinical atmosphere.
In design terms the garden
Supported orientation and safety with level paths secure fencing and nearby amenities.
Offered controlled sensory stimulation nature birds children playing sun and shade without overwhelming noise or clutter.
Created chances for meaningful activity like gardening art music and mindful noticing of plants and weather.
Kept people living with dementia visible in public life as other park users could see and enjoy the workshops happening in the garden.
For dementia inclusive design this suggests that public greenspaces should be planned as therapeutic social and identity supporting places, not just as scenery.
What Can You Take Away?
If you are a designer service provider local council worker or a family member some clear messages emerge.
Emotion and wellbeing
Time in a dementia supportive and inclusive garden helped people feel calmer happier more rested and “less on edge.”
The garden gave people a sense of being grounded present and connected to something larger than their everyday routine.
Relationships and identity
Shared outdoor activities created moments where people saw each other “as they used to be” for example someone miming violin playing and triggering memories of their role in an orchestra.
Carers/ care partners valued simply sitting side by side doing something enjoyable instead of only doing tasks like organising medication or appointments.
Community and inclusion
Being in a public everyday place hearing children seeing other park users gave people a sense of citizenship, still belonging in their community.
People felt more visible and more likely to see the garden and nearby paths or cafés as places they could return to.
This video comes from an outside source. While we've found it helpful and relevant to dementia-inclusive environmental design, we don't create or manage the content. Please note this video is approximately 1 minute in length.
Implementation and Action
The project offers practical guidance for anyone wanting to embed dementia inclusive design in outdoor spaces and programs.
Design the space
Ensure safe understandable layouts level continuous paths clear entrances obvious seating handrails if needed and secure but welcoming fencing.
Provide basic amenities toilets shade and shelter accessible parking and public transport and seating at regular intervals.
Plan for sensory richness, (diverse planting, think colour, texture, scent) birds and insects, views of sky and trees, and safe spaces to feel plants and touch the soil.
Design the program
Offer structured repeating activities art music gardening mindfulness tailored to the garden for example making wreaths from garden foliage or drawing plants on site.
Involve both people living with dementia and their carers together so each gains support and respite while also sharing positive experiences.
Build in time for informal socialising such as a relaxed lunch after the session so people can talk swap stories and share strategies.
Connect with the wider community
Keep the space open to the public during sessions so that people living with dementia are part of wider community life.
Explore intergenerational options such as simple shared art or music activities with nearby preschools or schools where safe and appropriate.
The Critical Messages
From a dementia inclusive design perspective, several core messages stand out. Nature is not an extra; it is central to wellbeing, and carefully designed gardens can reduce stress, support better sleep and improve mood for people living with dementia and carers. Safety and stimulation must work together, with secure fencing, even paths and clear signage making it possible to offer rich sensory experiences without unnecessary risk. Public greenspaces can reduce isolation because structured dementia inclusive programs can turn an ordinary park into a place of social connection and belonging. Design can also honour identity by offering activities that draw on previous skills and interests such as painting, gardening and music, helping people maintain a sense of self and dignity. It's important to remember that carers need support too, so programs should be shaped to ease carers stress, offer peer support and allow them to enjoy time with the person they support.
Looking Forward
The research strongly suggest that funding and planning should support more dementia inclusive greenspaces across local government areas not just one special garden. This means investing in both physical infrastructure safe accessible gardens and ongoing programs staff facilitators refreshments and materials so that sessions are regular and sustainable rather than one off.It also suggests expanding opportunities for participants to contribute to and shape the space for example planting the kitchen garden beds co creating multilingual signage or making artworks that remain in the garden to deepen their sense of ownership and belonging. With this kind of planning dementia inclusive design in public greenspaces can help people live well with dementia stay connected to others and remain part of the everyday life of their communities.
Reference
Neale K (2021). Living Well with Dementia Workshops: Exploring the benefits of hosting dementia therapy workshops within community greenspaces. 5 Senses Garden. https://iwna.com.au/docs/Living%20Well%20with%20Dementia%20Research%20Project%20(FINAL).pdf
Want to learn more about dementia-inclusive environmental design? Explore our Resource Hub for practical examples and current research on creating supportive home and care environments: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/512/for-educators