Effectiveness of Therapeutic Gardens for People with Dementia: A Systematic Review

Dementia is a major cause of disability in older adults, with a tremendous negative impact on the quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia (PWD). Non-pharmacological treatments have proved helpful in counteracting dementia-related symptoms and promoting QoL in PWD, such as gardening therapy and the therapeutic effect of gardens, based on the positive influence that contact with nature can have on promoting restoration processes, and also on PWD. This systematic review showed the beneficial effects of gardens and gardening therapy on PWD in several domains (behavioral, physical and emotional). The beneficial effects of contact with nature make such interventions a promising approach to investing in sustaining PWD. View this paper.