New Sanctuary Garden Blooms to Support Dementia Care
Accessible Space Offers Therapeutic Benefits in Battersea Park
A newly opened sanctuary garden in southwest London provides a calming and accessible outdoor space designed to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The garden, located within Thrive London’s Battersea Park grounds, aims to harness the restorative power of nature for therapeutic benefit.
A Sensory Haven for Wellbeing
The garden is specifically designed to accommodate a range of sensory and mobility needs, allowing everyone to participate in gentle gardening activities. Alex McDonald, from Thrive London, explained the organization’s vision for the space. We look forward to welcoming people to the sanctuary garden where older visitors and people on our programmes and their carers can benefit from time in nature, therapeutic gardening and feeling part of a community.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2024, and this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Innovative approaches like horticultural therapy are increasingly recognized for their potential to improve quality of life.
Horticultural Therapy: A Growing Field
Thrive London utilizes a program where trained practitioners guide individuals with dementia or memory loss through gentle gardening tasks. Engagement with nature and gardening has been shown to reduce dementia risks, potentially delaying onset, slowing decline, and combating social isolation, according to research from Thrive.
The garden will also serve as a training ground for aspiring Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) practitioners, enhancing the availability of skilled professionals in this growing field. McDonald, a Thrive STH practitioner, emphasized the lasting impact of these activities. Whilst people with dementia may not be able to remember their tasks, the feelings last longer than the memories.
Local health and social care providers are hopeful that the garden will provide valuable support to the community, offering a unique resource for those affected by dementia and promoting wellbeing through the power of nature.
