Creating a Therapeutic Garden That Works for People Living with Alzheimer's

Therapeutic gardens specially designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease can improve the quality of life of those who use them, and can be helpful in reducing what are called “problem behaviors.” This article explores this statement and describes how the design process can best achieve a garden that is truly therapeutic. The article is in three parts, each of which represents a critical step in design: image, present, test. The last section presents eight basic design criteria to apply in therapeutic garden design review. The article is intended to leave the reader with the big idea that inside and outside environments must be designed as one to respond to the needs of the Alzheimer's mind.