Garden Memories Gardening Information and Advice for People Experiencing Memory Loss; Their Carers, Friends and Family

Garden memories Gardening information and advice for people experiencing memory loss; their carers, friends and family

Contents

Introduction page 4

1 Gardening and memory loss page 5

2 Basic design points page 7

3 Safety in the garden page 9

4 Getting started in the garden page 11

5 Grading gardening activities page 13

6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs page 15

7 Garden calendar page 27

Your notes page 35

Acknowledgements page 37 page 4

Introduction

Gardening is one of the most a try. We have seen how they can popular activities in the UK – an help rebuild confidence and alleviate estimated 6.5 million people in the anxieties and how shared tasks UK enjoy it, and around 80 per cent with carers, friends, and family can of the population have access to a benefit relationships. garden. At Thrive we believe that gardening fosters a strong sense Thrive is a national charity which of health and wellbeing in people helps people improve their health with a range of disabilities and have and well-being through gardening. found it can be particularly helpful to For more than 30 years, we have those experiencing memory loss and seen first-hand how gardening can other forms of dementia. transform lives.

If you are close to someone who is Our research shows that nearly one experiencing memory, loss or are in three (31 per cent) of people with experiencing it yourself, you may a disability believes that gardening like to give some gardening tasks has ongoing health benefits*.

*Research commissioned by Thrive from Mintel Custom Solutions, 2006. If you or someone you care for is affected by dementia, we hope this guide will encourage you to experience the continued benefits that gardening can bring. 1 Gardening and memory loss

Over time, those experiencing to boost mood and can help with dementia may not be able to sleep. Choosing and talking about maintain their ability to manage plants can spark memories and everyday tasks, as their mood and conversation. understanding are affected. These changes mean help may be needed A well-designed garden can be to find new ways to do these jobs, a safe, and enjoyable place that such as breaking each task down can help give a sense of time and into stages. continuity through being in touch with the seasons. Many familiar gardening jobs can quite easily be broken down into smaller steps. Through this approach people can be encouraged to continue to achieve. If chosen well, the tasks may help improve coordination and mobility,

Gardening can aid concentration and confidence; it is also a good form of exercise which in turn helps

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1 Gardening and memory loss 1 Gardening and memory loss

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Other gardening benefits

People with dementia are less likely to become agitated and distressed if they have regular access to fresh air and exercise and a quiet space away from others when they need it.

A garden gives fresh air, exercise and exposure to sunlight which is vital for well-being.

In a garden it’s possible for everyone no matter what their ability work at their own pace, doing as much or as little as they like, while gaining a sense of achievement. 2 Basic design points

There are some design points that Seating close to and away from the should be taken into account when house gives safe resting points and designing or modifying a garden for somewhere to aim for. Seating can use by those with memory loss: be a place for conversation, quiet reflection and enjoyment of the The garden should be easy to find changing seasons. from inside. For example, the view of the garden or the pathway to it Beds or containers that are at should not be blocked by furniture. comfortable heights will make gardening more enjoyable. Well designed, clear and safe patios, paths and steps are important parts of a garden. They give routes to move from one area to another, as well as making space to enjoy.

Circular or figure-of-eight routes round the garden are easier to negotiate as there is no need to make decisions.

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2 Basic design points page 8 3 Safety in the garden

Safety in the garden is of prime General safety points to consider importance, and the measures needed to keep those experiencing Safe access to the garden. memory loss secure depends on individual level of awareness. Paths, patios and steps need to be firm, level and non-glare.

An enclosed garden reduces the likelihood of wandering off.

Any water feature needs careful consideration.

Poisonous plants should be avoided.

The garden should be checked for other hazards, such as un-capped canes.

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3 Safety in the garden 3 Safety in the garden

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Safety checks for paths, patios Make sure there are no People with reduced mobility and steps obstructions on or overhanging can find narrow paths and steps the path, such as branches. difficult. A minimum width of one Paths, patios and steps provide the metre is best. access routes around the garden, so Moss, algae, or debris can make it is important that they are safe to paving slippery. Keep it clean with Avoid steps of different heights, as use. a proprietary cleaner and clear any they can cause accidents. Replace debris. with steps of the same height. Loose and uneven paths and paving can cause trips and falls. Areas of paving that become Avoid steps altogether if possible. Replace them with a firm and level slippery in wet weather should If they are needed, install a sturdy surface. be re-laid with a material with handrail. better grip. Soft paths such as grass, bark and some gravel surfaces can be hard Pale concrete and paving areas to walk on. Replace areas like this can cause glare in bright sunlight with a firmer surface. which can be uncomfortable and disorienting. Replace with darker Plants spreading are another surfaces. hazard. Cut plants right back away from path and patio edges. 4 Getting started in the garden

Use safe, well-maintained, familiar Those experiencing memory loss tools. Familiarity can trigger normal usually garden best when left to work response and activity in those at their own pace and with people experiencing memory loss. Keeping who guide but do not take over. tools well maintained will also help as they will be easier to use.

Some tools can be replaced with items that are more familiar and easier to use. Scissors can be used instead of secateurs for light trimming jobs. They are easier to handle and the action of the scissors is more likely to be remembered.

Gardening can be small-scale, like planting a window box or some tubs, or tending houseplants or indoor bulbs.

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4 Getting started in the garden 4 Getting started in the garden

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Taking care – helpful hints It’s also possible to garden sitting Year-round activities down if tubs are at the right height. For those who have little strength, Some activities can carried out lightweight and long-handled tools Wearing comfortable clothes that all through the year, and routine can be easier and less tiring to use suit the season make gardening activities can help to give a sense of than full-sized ones. more pleasant and a simple warm-up continuity. Suggestions include: exercise, such as a short walk around the garden, before starting is helpful. clearing and tidying the garden, patio and paths Strain by lifting heavy things, or bending uncomfortably for long preparation and planning for periods should be avoided and growing and sowing looking at breaks are important to avoid magazines, seed catalogues, etc. tiredness. 5 Grading gardening activities

No one should feel overwhelmed Here is a sequence of actions to help by the work. Breaking the jobs into this. smaller sections can help make tasks manageable. Where will the activity be done?

How will it be carried out?

What equipment is needed?

What plant material is needed?

What will be needed to clear up?

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5 Grading gardening activities 5 Grading gardening activities

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To help, here is an example for 3. What equipment is needed? sowing seeds: Seed trays or pots? Seedlings don’t need to be pricked out if divided 1. Where will the activity be done? trays, where each seedling has Greenhouse, shed, kitchen table, its own cell of compost, are used. garden table? Sown trays can be Use a propagator or a tray with a placed on a windowsill, or in a lid; dibber, levelling board, general conservatory or greenhouse. purpose compost, a potting tray or compost tidy tray, sieve, watering 2. How will it be carried out? can with a fine rose, labels, pencil, Depending on ability, the gardener rubber. might be able to do the whole activity or just one or more parts 4. What plant material is needed? of the job. Choosing a manageable Packets of seed task appropriate to concentration levels is important to success. 5. Clearing up A single task could be filling Clean and store tools and the tray or pots with compost. equipment. Position sown items Collecting items and clearing could where they will germinate. also be done by one person. 6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs

The following examples are approaches to various common gardening jobs. Sowing seeds

You will need... Seed tray and compost, seeds, watering can, label and pen

1 Overfill a seed tray with seed 2 Level the compost using a sawing 3 In a standard tray, space the seed compost. action. Place a levelling board out evenly, starting from one long over the seed tray and press firmly. and one short side of the tray.

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6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs 6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs

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Sowing seeds (continued)

4 Put two handfuls of seed 5 Label the seed tray. compost into the sieve and Water the tray with a watering sprinkle a thin layer of compost can with a fine rose. over the seeds. Pricking out

You will need... Small pot, seedlings, compost, dibber, widget, piece of wood for levelling, watering can, label and pen

1 Overfill a pot with seed compost. 2 Level the compost with a piece 3 Place a widget under the roots Tap the pot on the bench three of wood. of a healthy seedling and lift the times to settle the compost. it out by one leaf – not the stem.

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Pricking out (continued)

4 Make a hole in the centre of the 5 Put the seedling in the hole with 6 Label and water. pot with the dibber, pen or your leaves just above the compost. finger. Tap the pot on the bench to settle. Potting on

You will need... Small pot, larger pot, compost, watering can, label and pen

1 Select a pot the next size up. 2 Take the plant out of the pot and 3 Put the small pot into the larger Put a small amount of compost place to one side. pot. Make sure that the tops are into the bottom of this pot. level.

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Potting on (continued)

4 Hold the small pot still 5 Take the small pot out 6 Drop the plant into the 7 Label and water. in the centre. Fill the by twisting and lifting it. hole. Tap to level the gap between pots with compost. compost and firm. Taking semi-ripe cuttings

Some plants or shrubs that can be propagated in this way are Hebe, Deutzia, Cornus, Philadelphus and Weigela. You will need... Secateurs, 12.5cm pot, sand and compost mix, watering can, label and pen, small canes or sticks and a plastic bag

1 Choose a shoot 2 Make a straight cut 3 Fill a 12.5cm pot with 4 Space the cuttings without flowers or about 7-10cm from the a mix of half sand, around the edge of flower buds. top of the shoot, just half multi-purpose the pot. Trim the bottom few below a node (where a compost. Label and water. leaves off. leaf joins the stem).

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Taking semi-ripe cuttings (continued)

5 Put four canes or sticks 6 Put the pot in a bright 7 Open the bag from 8 To check if the cuttings around the edge of place out of direct time to time to let in have rooted, gently the pot, place a plastic sunlight. air. tug one of the leaves. bag over and fix it to the pot with string or elastic. Planting bulbs

Choose large, firm bulbs. Bulbs prefer rich well drained soil and a sunny spot.

You will need... Bulb planter, bulbs, bone meal, watering can

1 Make a hole into cleared ground 2 Put a small amount of bone meal 3 Put your bulb, with its tip facing using a bulb planter. Loosen the into the bottom. up, into the hole. soil around the sides.

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Planting bulbs (continued)

4 Release the soil from the bulb 5 Firm in. 6 Water well. planter back over the bulb. Taking hardwood cuttings

Forsythia, willow and dogwood are some hardwood plants suitable for cuttings . You will need... Secateurs, large pot, sand and compost mix, watering can, label and pen, small canes or sticks and a plastic bag

1 Choose a stem that is as thick as a 2 Take all the leaves off. 3 Measure 15-20cm up the pencil and at least 30cm long. Cut it off cutting and make a sloping above a node. cut above a node.

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Taking hardwood cuttings (continued)

4 Fill a large pot with 5 Push five cuttings 6 Label and water and 7 The cuttings could half sand, half multi- into the compost so place outdoors. also be put straight purpose compost. that the top nodes are into into open ground showing. rather than in pots. Cuttings take up to a year to root. 7 Garden calendar

Here are a selection of seasonal garden job ideas. As always gardeners should pick and choose what is appropriate for their levels.

Season – Spring

Activity Equipment

Sowing vegetable and flower seeds Sowing calendar, seeds, potting tray, sieve, watering can, labels, string and line (for outdoor sowing) compost, pots, seed trays, levelling board

Painting garden structures, fences, etc. Paint, paint pots, dust sheets, brushes, sandpaper and blocks, dustpan and brush, masks, overalls or aprons

Feeding the birds Bird seed and feeders, equipment for making fat cakes – seed, fat and suet, terracotta pots, microwave. Bird ID sheet, wildlife books and guides

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7 Garden calendar 7 Garden calendar

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Garden calendar (continued) Season – Spring

Activity Equipment

Pricking out or transferring seedlings Pots, compost, dibber, pricking out and potting on tool, trowel, levelling board

Mulching borders Bark mulch, wheelbarrow, spades, shovel and rakes

Grass maintenance Lawn mower, edging iron, edging shears, dustpan and brush, wheelbarrow, plank/board to edge against

Patio maintenance Weeding knives, buckets, kneelers, hoes, shovel, broom, dustpan and brush, sand Season – Summer

Activity Equipment

Lifting spring bulbs if in the way of Trays lined with newspaper, summer bedding display – store in dry labels, trowels and buckets, secateurs conditions

Removing spring/winter bedding Trowels, hand forks, pots, compost, wheelbarrows, buckets

Planting tubs and hanging baskets Tubs, hanging baskets, moss or basket liner, summer bedding plants, compost, slow release plant food or pellets, watering cans

Watering, especially pots of vegetables Hose or watering cans and flowers

Planting out vegetables in tubs or the Vegetable plants, string and line, ground trowels, spades, watering can

Staking and supporting plants Hazel twigs, bamboo canes, cane caps, string, scissors

Harvesting mature vegetables and Trays, secateurs, bags, punnets, fruits buckets, trowels, hand forks

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Garden calendar (continued) Season – Summer

Activity Equipment

Mowing and edging grass areas As in Spring

Sowing winter bedding (pansies and Seed sowing equipment and seeds violas)

Deadheading faded flowers Secateurs and/or scissors, buckets

Preparing semi-ripe cuttings Sand and compost, pots or trays, watering can, secateurs, bucket

Picking flowers and creating displays Secateurs, scissors, baskets, vases or bowls, Oasis and Oasis holder; tape

Patio maintenance Weeding knives and scrapers, buckets, kneelers, hoes, shovel, broom, dustpan and brush, sand to fill in the cracks. Season – Autumn

Activity Equipment

Deadheading – removing dead and Secateurs, buckets or bags, kneeler faded flowers pads

Harvesting Secateurs, collecting trays, bags, punnets and elastic bands, hand forks, trowels

Watering Lightweight watering cans or hose

Planning for winter bedding or bulbs Seed catalogues, big sheet of paper to draw plan, pens, scissors, magazines to cut out

Taking semi-ripe cuttings Sand and compost, pots or trays, watering cans, secateurs, bucket

Seed sowing perennials Seeds, seed trays, compost, sieve, watering can, labels and pencils, rubber

Weeding Short or long-handled trowels or forks, rakes or hand rakes

Edging and grass cutting Mower, edging irons and shears, plank/board to edge against

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Garden calendar (continued) Season – Autumn

Activity Equipment

Bulb planting Bulbs, bulb planters

Planting onion sets and garlic Onion and garlic sets, trowels or bulb planters, string and line

Making fat cakes for the birds, See Spring observing bird and wildlife

Pruning roses Secateurs, buckets

Lifting and dividing perennials Large forks, small forks, spades, wheelbarrow, pots and compost

Sweeping and raking leaves Spring tine rakes, wheelbarrow, leaf collectors, shovel, brooms

Removal of summer bedding Trowels, hand forks, wheelbarrow, bucket

Sowing sweet peas Seeds, 9cm pots (square) compost, levelling board, dibber, watering can Season – Winter

Activity Equipment Planning work for next year Flower and vegetable books, pens and paper, large paper for plans, seed catalogues Preparing new beds from scratch, Boards and tape measure, edging if the ground is not frozen irons, spades, forks, wheelbarrow Feeding the birds, making fat cakes See Spring Making a compost bin or leaf mould Instructions; chicken wire and old area pallets, saw, nails, workbench, posts, pliers and secateurs Preparing new areas or new beds for Spades, shovels, forks, wheelbarrow, planting hand forks and hoes, buckets, secateurs Taking hardwood cuttings from: Sand, compost, buckets, 2 litre Forsythia, dogwood, Viburnum, or 1 litre pots, secateurs, labels, Weigela, hazel, Winter honeysuckle, watering can willow Propagation of strawberry runners Pegs, pots, compost, secateurs, strawberry plants Sweeping and raking leaves See Autumn

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Garden calendar (continued) Season – Winter

Activity Equipment

Xmas crafts, table decoration or willow Foliage collected from the garden, wreaths string, scissors, Oasis and Oasis dish, tape, secateurs, buckets; willow, hazel, pine cones, baubles, spray paint (silver and gold) glitter

Pot washing Brushes, washing up liquid, cloths, plastic containers for clean and soapy water

Potting on sweet peas Dibber, pricking out tool, compost trays, pots, compost, labels, watering can, levelling board

Cutting back some perennials to the Secateurs, buckets, wheelbarrow ground; leave ones which look good in winter or that need the dead foliage to protect them from the frost

Checking semi ripe cuttings These can be potted on when rooted Your notes

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Your notes Acknowledgements

This guide has been created to The production of this guide has provide information and advice been made possible with funding for gardening with someone who from The Partnership Development has memory loss, their carers, Fund, Berkshire West PCT. friends and families. We wish to acknowledge the ideas, contributions and support given by all those who have helped produce this guide.

Liability Thrive accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any actions undertaken as a result of advice offered in this publication. Only attempt what is possible for you and the person you are caring for, and always consult a healthcare professional before commencing a new exercise regime. All information was correct at the time of going to print.

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T: 0118 988 5688 E: [email protected] W: www.thrive.org.uk www.carryongardening.co.uk

Thrive is a small national charity that uses gardening to change the lives of disabled people.

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