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Creative Spaces - dementia and environment

Engagement Activities: bulb planting

30.11.2010

Introduction

In previous activities, residents have mentioned a desire to plant bulbs in the garden. With this in mind we incorporated a bulb planting activity in the Year 2 activity programme. In addition, three residents previously won daffodil bulbs for their carved pumpkins and were looking forward to planting their own bulbs.

The aims of this session were to:

Increase the amount of time that residents spent outdoors
Increase the opportunity for social interaction for residents
Increase awareness of the project amongst relatives
Encourage relatives to take more interest in using the outdoor spaces at Trevarna through greater participation in the project activities
To demonstrate a simple, low cost and effective outdoor activity to care staff

We had decided to plant bulbs in the areas of the garden that were not forming part of the project. This way, they wouldn’t be accidently dug up or disturbed during the garden redevelopment and also the bulbs would provide some colour in the garden next Spring whilst the project areas were being re-planted.

Participants

The following people participated in the activity:

4 residents from Trevarna
1 care worker
3 Sensory Trust staff
1 relative
1 young person
2 community members

The Activity

We had 220 spring bulbs to plant; crocuses, irises, tulips, daffodils, Glory-of-the-Snow and Brodiaea (also known as Cluster Lily). The gardener who maintains the current garden at Trevarna had previously prepared several holes around the side and back areas of the garden so that we didn’t spend too much time on preparing the ground on the day.

A discussion amongst the group decided where the bulbs would be planted. We were fortunate that one of the residents used to be a gardener and has a good recollection of which bulbs could be mixed together and which ones would grow best if not mixed with others. The family relative is also a gardener and was able to provide advice on planting techniques. The group was then split into pairs or trios so that each resident had the opportunity of planting the bulbs, with assistance from someone else. Armed with bulbs, trowels and garden gloves they wandered off to different areas in the garden to plant their bulbs.

The ‘helpers’ were asked to allow the residents to have as much ‘hands on’ experience as they wanted; to encourage them to use the trowels to loosen the soil and to plant the bulbs themselves. The helpers main contribution was to re-install the cut turf and to involve the residents in conversation and help them to enjoy the experience. We wanted to avoid a situation where the assistants would be doing all the work whilst the residents looked on.

A couple of the residents were physically unable to kneel down to plant the bulbs but they came up with their own way of doing the activity which allowed them to take the greater role; one gentleman used his stick to push the bulbs into the ground and another gentleman dropped his bulbs in from a standing position. The great thing about bulbs is that they will still grow even if they land upside down in a hole!

One resident wanted to do weeding before bulb planting so she spent some time with a member of the Sensory Trust assisting her, wandering around tidying up the borders before she turned her hand to planting bulbs.

The activity took around an hour to do and we were all finished by midday. This seemed to be ideal timing as although the sun was shining, it was accompanied by a cool breeze and an hour was about right for the residents before they were ready for a cup of tea and a chance to warm up indoors.

Summary

The best way to summarise this activity is to relate the impact on two of the residents.

One female resident is an ex-marathon runner and has been known to run off down the street when taken outside before, so initially the care worker wasn’t keen on bringing her out to participate because of this risk. We persuaded her to give it a go and we were all pleased that we did. The lady didn't once make a run towards the entrance, she was too busy enjoying herself in the garden, chatting with the care worker who was planting with her and watching others planting their bulbs. After she’d planted all her bulbs, she went back indoors for a cup of tea, and as she did so the grin on her face said it all.

Another resident was a very keen gardener when he was younger. He’s 90 now with poor eyesight and he can't bend down far these days, but we didn’t allow that reduce the level of his involvement. Working with the guidance of a youngster he planted a whole row of bulbs, dropping them into the holes before his ‘assistant’ covered them over. They talked together as they planted and walked around the garden. I think they're building up a real friendship, and it doesn't matter if the resident doesn't remember the young lad’s name next time they meet - he'll feel a familiarity with the young lad that will make him feel safe and comfortable in his company.

Meaningful time spent outdoors, actively engaging people in ‘hands-on’ activities allow people with dementia to use the creative side of their brains in a productive way. Thoughts of wandering or catching a bus to get home are pushed aside because they are busy doing something, engaged in conversation and decision-making. Would other care home gardens need a bus stop in them if they had more practical and enjoyable activities for people to engage in? I think not!

In relation to getting more people involved in the project, I had met with the gardener who is currently maintaining the gardens both at Trevarna and Woodlands on several previous occasions. He has shown an interest in the garden element of the project from early on in the project so it’s important to keep him involved. One way would be by encouraging him to work with the care staff to get more of the residents outdoors working with him whenever possible.

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