This week we have been asked to design dementia gardens for care homes in 3 different countries. It has been a busy week, and it's only Thursday! As award winning designers and active researchers in care home gardens and dementia garden design we are commissioned to improve the quality of life of residents, the business bottom line, staff retention and job satisfaction. At times it can be quite a challenge.

Generally though we talk to the care home manager or their architect about what we can achieve. We work in collaboration with staff, and where possible families, carers and the residents to design practical spaces with soul. Too many dementia gardens emphasise care free surfacing - that effectively means the client has been convinced that concrete in its many and varied forms can be therapeutic. Not so! From experience we know practical, abundant planting, set within a low maintenance planting plan can create a calming, stimulating environment in even tiny courtyard garden, roof garden or balcony spaces.

Whenever we are commissioned to design a new dementia garden there is a real buzz in the office as well get excited about the project and the difference we can make. If it sounds corny, it is! We love to use our talent to show the boring old status quo that creative landscapes are a cost effective tool for the management of dementia.

I came across this in an Indian art in design forum. It is true of landscape architecture everywhere.

• "Do not believe that landscape design is only about making gardens. Instead, try and fathom that it’s about making a world - and influencing it since all space outside the built is the theatre of the landscape architect. It includes the streets, the play grounds, the gardens and also the country side, the forest and the hills.
• Do not believe that landscape design is not intellectually challenging. In fact, the best works are those that are philosophical, delve in the abstract, border on the realm of the arts, and are lucid and structured so that people can occupy them and use them. In many parts of the world in history, it’s good to remember that landscape architecture was considered the mother of all arts- above architecture and the other arts." Ar. Aniket Bhagwat

by Savitha Hira