1.

Safety First: Safety is the top priority when designing a therapeutic gardening program
for dementia patients. Make sure the environment is safe, easy to navigate, and free
from hazards that could cause accidents or injuries.

2. Simplicity is Key: Keep the gardening activities simple and focus on sensory stimulation
and enjoyment. Avoid complex tasks that may cause frustration or confusion.

3. Adapt to the Needs of Each Person: Individuals with dementia have unique needs and
abilities, so it's essential to adapt the gardening activities to each person's specific
situation. Aid and guidance as needed, but also allow for independence and self-
expression.

4. Focus on Social Interaction: Gardening can be a great way to promote social interaction
and engagement. Encourage group activities, or pair individuals with similar interests to
work together on gardening tasks.

5. Use Gardening as a Sensory Stimulation: Gardening can stimulate the senses, such as
sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Use plants with different textures, colors, and
scents to engage the senses and provide a therapeutic experience.

6. Evaluate and Measure Results: Regularly assess the effectiveness of the therapeutic
gardening program by monitoring the participant's behavior and mood. Evaluate the
program's success based on the desired outcomes, such as improved mood, decreased
agitation, or increased social interaction.
Overall, a successful therapeutic gardening program for individuals with dementia should be
designed to provide a safe, enjoyable, and engaging experience that promotes social interaction
and sensory stimulation. When skill level is high and activity challenge is low, the individual is
quite likely to be bored. When the skill level is low and the activity challenge is high, the
individual is most likely to be anxious. When the skill level and activity challenge are identical or
nearly identical, the individual is most able to achieve a state of concentration and energy
expenditure that Csikszentmihalyi (1990) has labeled “flow.”

Reference:
Therapeutic Recreation Models https://nursinganswers.net/essays/models-in-therapeutic-
recreation-services-health-and-social-care-essay.php