‘I want to make myself useful’: the value of nature-based adult day services in urban areas for people with dementia and their family carers

Abstract

Nature-based adult day services (ADSs) in urban areas are relatively new services in the Netherlands. Since knowledge about these services is still scarce, this study aimed to elucidate their value for people with dementia and their family carers in terms of health and wellbeing. We interviewed 39 people with dementia attending nature-based ADSs in urban areas and their family carers, and 17 providers of these services. Respondents indicated that nature-based ADSs in urban areas positively affected the health and wellbeing of people with dementia. According to them, these services support contact with nature and animals, activity engagement, physical activity, structure, social interactions, healthy eating, a sense of meaning in life and a focus on normal daily life. Respondents further indicated that these services stimulate respite, reassurance and maintenance of family carers’ own activities and social contacts. We conclude that nature-based ADSs in urban areas have a wide range of benefits that might affect the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and their family carers. Worldwide, demand is growing for innovative practices in dementia care. It is therefore worthwhile monitoring the development of dementia care innovations, such as nature-based ADSs, and for countries to exchange lessons learned from these services.

<p>Care Farming for People with Dementia; What Can Healthcare Leaders Learn from This Innovative Care Concept?</p>

“…29,31,33,38,40,41 Moreover, organizational aspects such as working routines in regular dementia care environments appear rigid and are often perceived as unalterable, which also complicates engaging people with dementia and using the physical environment in an optimal way. 42 Potential downsides of an inviting and open environment, such as a care farm environment, are potential hazards. Activities such as cooking, caring for animals, and working with machinery can involve safety and health risks such as decreased hygiene, allergies, and the risk of stumbling.…”

“…As such, they differ from regular dementia care environments where lower levels of physical activity and activity engagement, less time spent outdoors, and fewer social interactions have been observed. [35][36]38,39,[42][43][44][45] Furthermore, participants and their family caregivers experience less stigmatizing because of dementia, since the care farm environment is a "normal" non-institutional kind of place. Instead, people with dementia may feel like a volunteer or employee rather than a patient with cognitive and functional impairments.…”

“…People with dementia attending adult day services centers at a care farm are on average younger (about 71 years vs 85 years) and more often male than people with dementia attending adult day services centers affiliated to residential homes or nursing homes. 36,42,[46][47][48] Care farms do not intend to attract a distinctive client group. They are motivated to serve people with dementia of different sexes, ages, and backgrounds.…”

De waarde en het perspectief van Stichting Mijn tuin Jouw tuin

“…Het groen stimuleert dat mensen met dementie zinvol bezig zijn, actief zijn, een gestructureerde en fijne dag hebben en andere mensen ontmoeten. Het is voor bezoekers ook fijn om met de bewoners gebruik te maken van het groen en bv een wandeling te maken [22,23].…”

The Care Farming Sector in The Netherlands: A Reflection on Its Developments and Promising Innovations

“…Entrepreneurial care farmers identified and created opportunities for new business opportunities and innovative services [14]. Examples include residential care for people with dementia, as an alternative to nursing homes [15], nature-based and farm-based care services in urban areas [16,17] and (more recently) educational services for school dropouts. The latter two innovations have thus far received little attention.…”