St Francis Aged Care in central west NSW has created an outdoor space designed to stimulate the senses for residents with dementia.
The plants in the new garden were chosen for their very defined textures, colours and smells – which can help to inspire and recover old memories, as people experiencing dementia can’t produce new ones.
It also features a seated section with a brightly coloured parrot sculpture and a water feature with dyed water for visual stimulation.
St Francis’ Manager, Sharon Hesse, said the land had been underutilised until the garden was built.
“The residents love it. They go for a walk on the pathway and then have their morning tea in the seated area,” she told The Central Western Daily.
“You can see it on their faces when they touch something. It brings back joy, and that is very special.”
