30/09/2026
Last year for , we explored the therapeutic benefits of gardening for people living with Alzheimer's. This year, we're following up with practical ways to make a garden more dementia-friendly.
Swipe through for our tips 🌿
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1. Simple Paths
Flat, wide paths with no dead ends make a garden easier and safer to explore. Stick to one colour, ideally pale, so paths are easy to follow, and keep them free of trip hazards.
2. Raised Beds
Raised beds let people garden standing up, without needing to kneel or bend. Add posts at the corners so there's something sturdy to hold onto for balance and support.
3. Plant with Care
Keep planting safe - avoid anything toxic or thorny. Plant for reminiscence: scented and familiar favourites like lavender, sweet peas and roses can spark memories from years gone by. Make it sensory too - soft leaves like lamb's ear for touch, grasses and wind chimes for sound, herbs for smell.
4. Sturdy Seating
Choose seating with both arm and back support, so it's easy to sit down and get back up safely. Space it regularly throughout the garden, so there's always somewhere close by to rest.
5. Welcome Wildlife
Encourage birds, bees and other wildlife into the garden. A bird feeder with a seat nearby gives people a simple, calming activity - sitting and watching.
6. Different Spaces
Everyone's needs change day to day. A mix of quiet corners, hands-on working areas, and social spaces means the garden can flex to suit how someone's feeling on any given day.
7. Shade & Shelter
A pergola, tree canopy or simple awning gives people a reason to stay outside longer, with shelter from strong sun or a sudden shower.
8. Signage & Landmarks
Clear, simple signage helps people find their way and feel confident exploring independently. Use large text alongside pictures or symbols, and keep wording short and familiar. Landmarks - a bright pot, an arch, a distinctive plant - can work just as well as signs for helping someone find their way back.
Alive has been running dementia-friendly gardening sessions for over a decade now. Find out how to join one: https://aliveactivities.org/what-we-do/services/alive-gardening/
Know someone who'd benefit? Tag them below.
Thanks also to fellow charities Trellis & Thrive for their pioneering work, relentlessly raising awareness of the important role that Social & Therapeutic Horticulture can play in improving and maintaining a person's health and well-being.
