Engaging Dementia Patients with Herb Garden Marker Project

When the weather is nice, gardening can be a wonderful activity for a loved one with dementia. Gardening can provide a sense of purpose, promote physical activity, and create opportunities for social interaction. It can also improve mood, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall well-being.

Gardening can give a sense of purpose to people with dementia. It provides them with a task to focus on and a goal to achieve. The sense of accomplishment they feel from growing and nurturing plants can be empowering and boost their self-esteem. It can also give them a routine to follow, which can be particularly helpful for those who struggle with structure and predictability.

Gardening can also promote physical activity. It can help people with dementia maintain their mobility, strength, and balance, which can reduce the risk of falls and other physical problems. Gardening can also provide a low-impact form of exercise that is enjoyable and accessible for people of all abilities.

Gardening also creates opportunities for social interaction. It can be a shared activity with family members, caregivers, or other residents in a care home. This can provide a sense of belonging and connectedness, which can be particularly important for people with dementia who may feel isolated or disconnected from their surroundings.

Add to the gardening experience by working on simple crafts like the herb garden markers below. All the materials are available at local craft supply stores.

Herb Garden Marker

What You’ll Need: 

• Wooden spool 
• Thin wooden dowel
• Washi tape 
• Thin point Sharpie
• Safety scissors 

 Steps:

1. Pull out a strip of washi tape at least six to eight inches long.
2. Wrap it around the spool, bringing the two ends of the tape together to create a flag.
3. Trim the end of the tape to an appropriate length.
4. Cut a triangle at the end of the flag to add a bit of style.
5. Label the flag with the name of a plant in your garden.

See more activities for dementia patients.

 Caregiver Tips

1. This activity can be scaled to your loved one's abilities. For example, if they cannot safely use scissors, make the cuts for them.
2. While doing activities with a loved one with dementia, engage them in conversation. Play music they enjoy softly in the background to create a positive mood.
3. Even though your loved one may not remember names or things that happened in recent days, they may still remember their childhood. Ask about favorite colors or clothing they used to wear or how they celebrated holidays as a child.
4. Activities for people with dementia have the best chance of success early in the day when your loved one is well rested. If they don’t want to participate or get frustrated, don’t force it. Try again another time.
5. Remember that the goal is to have an engaging activity with your loved one with dementia. Don’t worry about the end result.

Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to support patients with dementia and their families. Please call us at 1-888-564-3405 to learn more about how our unique care programs help provide a higher quality of life for dementia patients while helping caregivers avoid burnout.