A Garden to Remember: designing a garden for the elderly
Therapeutic Horticulture
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What's it like to be old?
Video of "Heather"
Photo by MLazarevski
WHEN I AM AGED I MAY:
- Be challenged in terms of my physical balance & abilities
- Have great or some long term memory & generally limited short term memory
- Have mood swings from anxiety to anger to great highs
- Enjoy going outside or reluctant to move
- Be living independently or in supported care
Being elderly means being out and about in the community & seeing warning signs about myself!
Why do they do this?
It feels like I am a danger to everyone and everything
Photo by squareintheteeth
WHAT ARE THE RISKS WHEN DESIGNING GARDEN SPACES FOR THE ELDERLY?
- Hard surfaces & finishes
- Path widths need to be increase
- Handrails to steady
- Allergies to scented plants
- Stings, bites from plants & insects
- Falls, slips, cuts
- Sensitivity to light, wind, sun
- Resting seats
Photo by karlequin
A garden to remember features a selection of old favourite flowers from World War 11 & afterwards
Photo by jspad
Plants for this Garden:
- Hydrangeas for sentiment & colour
- 'Peace' Rose for memories
- Violets for colour & fragrance
- Sweet Peas for colour, fragrance
- Hellebores for colour in winter
- Star Jasmine for fragrance
- Vietnamese mint for flavour
Photo by Amy Loves Yah
More Plants
- Crepe Myrtle for colour
- Flanders Poppies for remembrance
- Daphne for fragrance
- Thyme, Lavender, Rosemary for for fragrance & healing
- Cumquat for taste & culinary diversity
- Marigold for colour & companion planting
Photo by john shortland
Cultural awareness & sensitivity
An important consideration in planning activities for horticultural therapy & the aged
Photo by amimor
References
- www.thrive.org.uk
- www2.health.vic.gov.au
- www.healinglandscapes.org
- www.enablingenvironments.com.au
- www.alzeimers.net
- www.dmas.org.au
- Design for Healing Spaces: Therapeutic Gardens
