Well-Being Benefits of Horticulture-Based Activities for Community Dwelling People with Dementia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Most people living with dementia in the early-to-middle stages live in the community or in their own homes and engagement in enjoyable activities is fundamental to maintaining quality of life and autonomy. Horticulture-based activities are beneficial for the health and well-being for people living with dementia (“PLWD”) in residential care settings, yet evidence within community settings, where the majority live, has not been comprehensively synthesized. A mixed studies systematic review protocol was registered and a systematic search conducted to June 2022 across MEDLINE, COCHRANE, Web of Science, Embase, Psycnet, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases, using terms relating to dementia and horticulture. Original studies examining group or individual horticulture-based programs for community-dwelling PLWD were included. Forty-five articles were selected for full review, eight met inclusion criteria and were retained for data extraction. Evidence from three mixed methods, two quantitative, two qualitative, and one case study design, involving a total of 178 community dwelling PLWD, was narratively summarized. Findings revealed that involvement in horticulture-based activities led to positive impacts on engagement, social interactions, and mental and physical well-being in PLWD. No conclusive evidence was found from included studies for improvement in cognitive function. As most studies to date have concentrated on PLWD in long-term care settings, future research should evaluate the effect of these types of activities in a more rigorous intervention design in community settings.

Social connections as determinants of cognitive health and as targets for social interventions in persons with or at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders: a scoping review

“…Two papers also included persons with MCI (Neal et al ., 2021; Rai et al ., 2022), while one included older people without ADRD (Heins et al ., 2021). The eight articles are subdivided into (A) five on technology-based social interventions (Heins et al ., 2021; Hirt et al ., 2021; Neal et al ., 2021; Pinto-Bruno et al ., 2017; Rai et al ., 2022), (B) two on other social interventions (Marks and McVilly, 2020; Scott et al ., 2022), and (C) one on mixed technology-based and other social interventions (Han et al ., 2016).…”

“…(Neal et al, 2021;Rai et al, 2022), while one included older people without ADRD (Heins et al, 2021). The eight articles are subdivided into (A) five on technology-based social interventions (Heins et al, 2021;Hirt et al, 2021;Neal et al, 2021;Pinto-Bruno et al, 2017;Rai et al, 2022), (B) two on other social interventions (Marks and McVilly, 2020;Scott et al, 2022), and (C) one on mixed technology-based and other social interventions (Han et al, 2016) ○ In one study, VR headset with handheld controllers resulted in increased participation in social activities. A "virtual pet" displayed on a tablet controlled by staff members following a script reduced depressive symptoms, increased Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, and improved social interactions.…”

Residential Environments for Older Persons: A Comprehensive Literature Review (2005–2022)

“…More specifically, blue (water) and green (vegetated) spaces have been differentiated with respect to their health status impacts (Finlay et al, 2015). Residents’ frequency of contact with gardens and related vegetated outdoor spaces has been examined (Eren et al, 2020; Hsish et al, 2021; Scott et al, 2022; Xie & Yuan, 2021), together with the impact of these spaces on cognitive restoration among residents (Cutler & Kane, 2005; Freeman et al, 2012; Ottosson & Grahn, 2006). A participatory design strategy consisting of residents being shown videos of landscape design options for an outdoor courtyard improvement project yielded end users’ design assessments (Yari et al, 2021).…”

Dementia care and prevention in community settings: a built environment framework for cognitive health promotion

“…They emphasized public health implementation [30 ▪▪ ,31 ▪▪ ] for equity, access, and person-centred care [32 ▪ ,33 ▪ ,34 ▪▪ ,35 ▪▪ ,36 ▪ ,37,38 ▪ ,39 ▪▪ ]. Several frameworks highlighted the role of specific built environmental features, such as outdoor nature-based activity [40 ▪▪ ,41 ▪ ], community-integrated long-term care and housing options [42 ▪▪ ,43 ▪▪ ,44 ▪ ], or regional influences [45 ▪ ,46 ▪ ,47,48 ▪ ,49 ▪▪ ,50 ▪ ,51 ▪ ]. Others focused on the arts, digital technologies, and other cognitive stimuli in community settings [52 ▪ ,53 ▪▪ ,54 ▪ ,55 ▪ ,56 ▪ ].…”