Access to a dementia-friendly garden on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, falls and psychotropic medication use in residents of an aged care home in Melbourne, Australia

OBJECTIVE: Residents of care homes need access to outdoors. This may improve behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and quality of life in residents living with dementia. Barriers including lack of accessibility and increased falls risk, which may be mitigated using dementia-friendly design. This prospective cohort study followed a group of residents in the first 6 months after the opening of a new dementia-friendly garden. METHOD: Nineteen residents participated. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory – Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH) and psychotropic medication use were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The facility's falls rate during this time and feedback from staff and residents' next of kin were collected. RESULTS: Total NPI-NH scores decreased, though not significantly. Feedback was positive overall; the falls rate decreased. Usage of the garden was low. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its limitations, this pilot study adds to the literature about the importance of access to the outdoors for people who are experiencing BPSD. Staff remain concerned about falls risk despite the dementia-friendly design, and many residents do not access outdoors frequently. Further education may help to remove barriers to encouraging residents to access the outdoors.