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Memory garden
Most of us know spending time in nature feels good. Get your hands dirty and those benefits are amplified. But for people living with dementia, gardening can be transformative in ways we're only beginning to understand.
There’s mounting research pointing to the benefits of getting out in the garden, from maintaining sharper thinking throughout life to reduced agitation and improved mood after spending time with plants.
What the research tells us
A long-term study from the University of Edinburgh followed 467 people for nearly 80 years and found something surprising: those who gardened regularly maintained better thinking skills throughout their entire lives. Even when researchers looked at education, health, and activity levels, the gardening advantage remained clear and lasting.
Gardening naturally engages complex thinking skills. From planning to remembering the care routines of each plant and even problem-solving when plants need care, it's like gentle exercise for the mind wrapped up in an activity that feels naturally rewarding. But cognitive benefits are just the start. What makes gardening particularly valuable is how it supports overall wellbeing.
More than just ‘keeping busy’
Studies on horticultural therapy show that people with dementia who participate in gardening programs spend significantly more time engaged in meaningful activities and less time sitting idle. Research has documented improvements in mood and reductions in agitated behaviours, though the specific impacts can vary between individuals and programs.
Unlike other activities that have a focus on maintaining existing abilities, gardening creates something new and beautiful. It’s a chance to nurture growth, and with that comes something deeply satisfying. The simple act of planting seeds, watering them, and watching them grow affords a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and for someone living with dementia, this can be especially meaningful. The sensory aspects of gardening matter too. The feel of the earth between your fingers, the various shades of colour, the scent of fresh flowers and herbs… they’re all experiences that can help ground someone in the present moment.
A purpose with change
Recent Australian research from the University of Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast is investigating how 'gardening with a purpose' can benefit the quality of life of people with dementia. The research explores whether growing food for community programs enhances the therapeutic benefits of gardening activities.
When we contribute to something larger than ourselves we're unknowingly tapping into a fundamental human desire for purpose and connection. So when we grow plants like vegetables that will feed others—whether you are living with dementia or not—there's an innate feeling of having contributed as a community member while also exercising mind and body. Gardening may also work well for people with dementia because many tasks can be picked up intuitively. Many have decades of gardening experience, and these familiar activities can remain accessible even when other skills become more challenging.
Support that grows with your needs
Understanding these research-backed benefits, BlueCare incorporates gardening activities into our dementia care programs. It’s a valuable approach that has the potential to adapt as needs change. Whether it’s plotting out where to plant, tending to a veggie patch, digging in the dirt, or potting plants, activities can shift and change with needs and stages of dementia.
Our carers understand the goal isn’t perfection, rather it’s about the process and the connection gardening affords.
What’s most important to understand is, gardening can be as little or as much as is desired or possible. And it’s not limited to planting plants in the ground; It can also include things like:
- Plant propagation
- Creating a potted garden on a patio or indoors
- Starting a worm farm
- Watering and fertilising plants
- Wandering the garden and pruning plants along the way
There are no rules. Just loose guidelines and a desire to get your hands dirty.
A natural approach
While the research is compelling, it's the everyday benefits we see at BlueCare firsthand that fill out the story.
Staying connected to nature, having something to care for, feeling like you're contributing; gardening ticks a lot of boxes while also supporting brain health. And at the end of the day, dementia care is about helping to support and preserve the things that make life feel meaningful.