The ‘Life)me Garden Project’  

Julie Kerton, Staff Nurse and Clifford Cook, Poppies Day Treatment, Norfolk and Suffolk Founda)on NHS Trust 

 12:00‐13:10 

 Community Care 

‘Lifetime Garden Project’ Founded 2007

Julie Kerton and Clifford Cook

Aims of the Garden Project “Important that a garden for people with dementia was created by people with

dementia”

•  A place to engage with nature, garden and work together •  Link the indoors with the outdoors

•  To reflect peoples experiences of the outdoors and support reminiscence

•  Break down ‘us and them’ barriers

•  Opportunities for regular social interaction

•  Enhance wellbeing

In the beginning

The Meadow “The sheep and lamb brings back memories of my dad

being a sheep farmer”

“I used to work on a farm, I used to bale and stack the hay on the horse cart”

Beach Garden

•  “We like the beach...we associate it with Southwold”

•  “Sitting by this beach is relaxing; I feel a million miles away”

•  “It reminds me of Pakefield beach”

The orchard/allotment “We used to grow tomatoes in our greenhouse”

•  Built to enable the residents and staff to grow and eat their own produce

•  Raised beds make pottering a easier •  Orchard filled with familiar fruit trees •  Being out in the garden helps to prompt residents

memories of their own gardens

This garden was designed to be rustic, earthy and a bit unkempt

It is early days!!

The Woodland

The Mediterranean Garden Colourful planting, holidays abroad

An ideal communal seating area for church services or group work

Challenges •  Fundraising •  Staff’s unrealistic expectations, values and attitudes •  Maintaining enthusiasm •  Health, safety and risk management •  Staffing the project •  My role •  Including people with dementia •  Recognition of horticultural therapy •  Maintenance

Positive outcomes •  Garden is established and widely used, ‘buzz’ of activity •  Staff motivation •  Valuing volunteers •  It offers a private place •  Project members felt valued and sense of achievement •  Partnership working in practice

Comments made by project members

Many positive feelings of emotional wellbeing including ‘happiness’ and ‘calm’; "It takes my mind off things”, “I feel free”, "really peaceful” and "reflective”

“I come here because gardening is good for me…. I like the camaraderie of everyone, it’s nice to chat to other patients, visitors and staff. It also makes me feel younger, I've lost some weight and I now feel 66 years old instead of 76!!”

“You are amongst people with similar problems, while you are working with them you feel an air of satisfaction and achievement, it brings things more into balance. It is nice to integrate, it gives you much more confidence and I do enjoy being in the fresh air"

Unexpected outcomes

Malcolm at UEA Demen/a Conference 2010 

Cliff at ‘Dignity' Conference Cambridge 2012 

Thank you for listening

Julie Kerton, Staff Nurse Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Carlton Court St Peters Road Carlton Colville Lowestoft NR33 8AG Telephone 01502 527968 E-mail: julie.kerton@nsft.nhs.uk