Seasonal Gardening activities improve wellbeing at Dementia Cafés & Peer Support Groups

 Since 2016, I have been providing seasonal gardening activities at Dementia Cafés and Peer Support Groups several times a year.  Until 2020 when the pandemic closed down pretty much all social activities, these were run by The Alzheimer’s Society in Kent and Medway and subsequently taken up by Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells Dementia Friendly Communities (DFC).  These meetings for people living with dementia and their carers provide vital support, information and a space to socialise. The meetings include activities to stimulate and engage the attendees through reminiscence, use of different senses, creativity and fun.

How Does It Work

My gardening sessions usually take place in the middle of each meeting and last about 40 minutes. I pre-prepare activities to suit the needs and capabilities of the group. Always working indoors at tables, I ensure that there are no thorns, irritative or poisonous plants and no fiddly seedlings to prick out, so that everyone can share in the achievement of a job well done.  Attendees work together, share materials and help those around them and often take the finished product home to show and discuss again with their family.

Some of the most popular activities include:

• Choosing and planting bulbs and bedding plants
• Repotting houseplants and herbs
• Identifying cooking herbs
• Creating leaf and flower collage pictures
• Table centre arrangements, usually for Christmas

Gardening is a sensory activity and I often take in leaves and flowers to encourage discussion around the shape, colour, texture and scent as we identify the plant or flower. These activities reinforce the season and often stimulate a memory of someone’s own gardening hobby or back into childhood in a grandparent’s garden.

What attendees have said

 “It gets you all motivated”

“Very interesting learning about all the plants”

“It’s food for thought”

“I will do this activity with my granddaughter”

“Very calming and relaxing”

“I look forward to each session”

Sarah Sheppard, Support Group Facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Society Kent and Medway said:

 “Alison is a regular guest speaker at the Dementia cafes and Peer Support Groups. She leads a wide range of inclusive sessions with enjoyable hands-on activities such as making collages, some simple planting, taking part in a sensory game or simply examining and appreciating flowers and foliage – facilitating cognitive stimulation, health and well-being.

 She encourages people with dementia and their carers to participate and successfully adapts to the diverse needs of all the attendees.

 Alison is always willing and reliable. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and her communication skills enable everyone to feel comfortable whilst the achievement of participating in the sessions give people confidence, a sense of purpose and satisfaction. We are grateful for her generous support”

For further information

Please contact me to find out how I can help your organisation create a tailored programme of gardening activities to boost mental wellbeing for clients, patients, staff or volunteers.