Psychological impacts of intervention to improve a therapeutic garden for older adults with dementia: a case study conducted at a care facility

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Psychiatry

Andrea Melendugno¹  Veronica Murroni²  Erika Borella²  Elena Carbone²  Giulia Goldin²  Francesca Pazzaglia³  Chiara Meneghetti³  Raffaele Cavalli⁴  Andrea Basso⁵ 

[1] Casa Madre Teresa di Calcutta (O. P. S. A.), Padova, Italy;Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;Inter-University Research Center in Environmental Psychology (CIRPA), Roma, Italy;Department of Land Environment Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;Giotto Social Cooperative Padova, Padova, Italy;

关键词: exposure to nature;    therapeutic garden;    dementia;    behavior mapping;    intervention;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183934

 received in 2023-03-13, accepted in 2023-04-17,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionExposure to nature is known to support psychological wellbeing, and can support People with Dementia (PwD). Here we describe a case study conducted at a care facility for PwD to examine the effect of their exposure to nature after intervention to renovate an existing Therapeutic Garden (TG). Changes in frequency of attendance and behavior in the TG were examined. A single case was also considered to assess individual benefits.Materials and methodsTwenty-one PwD participated in the study. Their behavior in the TG was observed for 4 weeks before and after the intervention (using behavioral mapping), and measures of individual characteristics (general cognitive functioning, behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and quality of life) were administered.ResultsTen of the 21 PwD visited the TG more often after the intervention, their social behaviors (e.g., talking to others) increased, and their active isolated behavior in the garden (e.g., smelling, touching flowers) tended to increase. The increase in social behavior related to less severe baseline depressive symptoms. Passive isolated behaviors related to more impaired baseline cognitive functioning. The case of Mrs. A extended the findings for the whole sample: although her dementia symptoms (apathy, motor disturbances) worsened, she visited the TG more often after the intervention, her social exchanges and active isolated actions increased, and her agitation and wandering decreased.DiscussionThese results support the benefits of exposure to nature for PwD, and underscore the importance of considering users’ profiles to optimize their use of a TG.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Meneghetti, Murroni, Borella, Melendugno, Carbone, Goldin, Cavalli, Basso and Pazzaglia.