Gardening and contact with nature as therapy
My mum always loved gardening and flowers, but now she forgets a lot of things. Does it still make sense to let her tend to plants? I'm worried she might get frustrated or hurt.
How lovely that you want to keep your mum's passion alive. Gardening is one of the most rewarding activities for people with dementia, as it connects to old memories and the pleasure of nurturing, even when other abilities are lost.
Why it happens
Contact with nature stimulates the senses, reduces agitation, and improves mood. Watering, feeling the soil, or smelling aromatic herbs evokes deep memories and gives the person a sense of usefulness and calm that rarely requires words.
Practical strategies
- Choose simple and safe tasks: watering, picking up leaves, planting in a pot, smelling mint or rosemary.
- Use waist-height pots or raised garden beds to avoid bending and falling.
- Prefer non-toxic plants and plastic tools or those with blunt ends.
- Value the moment, not the outcome; praise and accompany without correcting.
- Adjust the duration to her energy levels and do it during cooler hours.
What NOT to do
- Do not leave her alone with toxic plants, bags of soil, or sharp tools.
- Do not insist if she is tired or irritable on that day.
When to seek professional help
If you notice persistent apathy or a loss of interest in everything, speak to your GP, as there may be associated depression. Some day centres offer therapeutic gardens.
"I used to get my mum to water the balcony pots every morning. She would smile in a way I hadn't seen for months." — Anonymous carer