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Any activity can be difficult for someone with dementia, but with the help of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), gardening doesn't have to be.
The Wildlife Generation Gardening Club promotes peer mentorship in wildlife gardening through knowledge sharing, knowledge sharing, social inclusion and volunteerism as a legacy project to educate a generation of young conservationists. environment that will have an impact on wildlife habitats.
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As an initiative, CWF helps people with dementia and is involved in the garden.
"People with dementia have cognitive problems and sometimes physical problems, all of which can affect their interest in gardening and horticulture," CWF education manager Enze Baye-Emerion said in a recent interview with The Weather Network.
Gardening improves health and brings back memories
Baye-Emerion says gardening can provide health benefits like vitamin D without sun exposure, which can help reduce anxiety, stress and anxiety — benefits for people with dementia.
This step can help with mobility and improve relationships with others.
“Meeting other gardeners, spending more time outdoors, reflecting, sharing stories and just enjoying the beauty of nature [are all benefits of gardening],” says Baye-Emerion.
It also helps them regain some of their memories.
"Having an animal park but also a sensory garden brings back memories," says Baye-Imeri.
“It certainly helps them remember a movie or a special event in their life. It can create beautiful memories. Hearing birds can (even) conjure up something beautiful.
How to manage a garden
When gardening, it's important to know your skills, what you need, and how and when to ask for help.
"Know your garden, know which plants to prune and which plants to move, and just focus on your support group and ask for help," says Baye-Imerion.
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She says gardening doesn't have to be a stressful hobby. Plan the work so that it is not overwhelming.
One simple thing people can do every day, she says, is spend time checking out what's in the park. When it comes time for weekly cleaning, people can identify and remove dead or struggling plants.
“All of these activities change with the seasons. In spring, especially early spring, we want to continue to diligently stock our bird feeders because bird food sources are scarce,” Baye-Imerion said.
Sometimes it also depends on their physical abilities. Baye-Emerion adds that they can do it on their own, so planning "really comes into play." "Just look at the gardening calendar and see what's possible and what's not."
He recommends native plants not only for ecological reasons, but also because of a manageable amount of work.
“[Do you have real plants? They require less work,” says Baye-Emerion. "They adapt well to the area and do well in this environment."
"You want to leave your winter bananas in the ground so you can warm up the soil a bit. You can also take your houseplants out in the spring, but in a shady spot. You don't want to expose them to the sun just in bad weather ."
But when people forget or make mistakes, there's no need to panic because there are always solutions, the education official said. For example, if you forget to water your plants on a certain day, that's okay and you can do it another time.
“Gardens are meant to be enjoyed, but when we don't, it gets awful. We can always take care of it," Bay-Imery said. "It shouldn't be a burden."
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Thumbnail courtesy of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF).
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