Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
We completed systematic reviews on the impact of gardens on the wellbeing of people with dementia (quantitative and qualitative), and on older people’s (including those with dementia) sensory experiences of nature (qualitative). A key finding that emerged from both reviews was that, while there were benefits from engaging with nature, availability and willingness of care staff to assist residents may impact on their opportunities to do so.
Objectives:
To communicate the evidence on the health and wellbeing impacts of nature for care-home residents to care-home staff, and to empower them to support their residents to enjoy nature.
Methods:
In collaboration with the Sensory Trust (a charity based in Cornwall, UK, who aim to make the outdoors accessible to all), we held a workshop with representatives from the care sector. Workshop participants gave feedback on different visual tools for communicating the findings to staff and managers. Two key needs were identified: information to demonstrate to managers the importance of prioritising and supporting nature activities and time outdoors; and guidance on how to increase the knowledge/confidence of care staff to support engagement with nature.
Results:
We produced two evidence booklets:
1) aimed to show care-home managers/owners that contact with nature can bring important benefits to care-home residents highlighting, e.g. improvements in behavioural problems, sleep, and sleep patterns;
2) less detailed, highlighting key findings and including seven nature-based activities, resources needed, what to do and ‘how to' tips to help staff engage residents. Two care-homes used the booklets over a four-week period and we visited the homes to talk with staff about their experiences of using the booklets. Staff were keen to engage with the materials and try out the activities with the residents.
Conclusions:
Our observations suggest that the booklets helped to disseminate messages about the importance (for staff and residents) of engaging with nature. Flexible content to reflect the varied nature of care-home settings will be necessary in future iterations of the booklets.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
We consulted with representatives from the care sector on how best to translate the review findings for care-home staff and had feedback from them on the booklets.
We completed systematic reviews on the impact of gardens on the wellbeing of people with dementia (quantitative and qualitative), and on older people’s (including those with dementia) sensory experiences of nature (qualitative). A key finding that emerged from both reviews was that, while there were benefits from engaging with nature, availability and willingness of care staff to assist residents may impact on their opportunities to do so.
Objectives:
To communicate the evidence on the health and wellbeing impacts of nature for care-home residents to care-home staff, and to empower them to support their residents to enjoy nature.
Methods:
In collaboration with the Sensory Trust (a charity based in Cornwall, UK, who aim to make the outdoors accessible to all), we held a workshop with representatives from the care sector. Workshop participants gave feedback on different visual tools for communicating the findings to staff and managers. Two key needs were identified: information to demonstrate to managers the importance of prioritising and supporting nature activities and time outdoors; and guidance on how to increase the knowledge/confidence of care staff to support engagement with nature.
Results:
We produced two evidence booklets:
1) aimed to show care-home managers/owners that contact with nature can bring important benefits to care-home residents highlighting, e.g. improvements in behavioural problems, sleep, and sleep patterns;
2) less detailed, highlighting key findings and including seven nature-based activities, resources needed, what to do and ‘how to' tips to help staff engage residents. Two care-homes used the booklets over a four-week period and we visited the homes to talk with staff about their experiences of using the booklets. Staff were keen to engage with the materials and try out the activities with the residents.
Conclusions:
Our observations suggest that the booklets helped to disseminate messages about the importance (for staff and residents) of engaging with nature. Flexible content to reflect the varied nature of care-home settings will be necessary in future iterations of the booklets.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
We consulted with representatives from the care sector on how best to translate the review findings for care-home staff and had feedback from them on the booklets.