Health and Wellbeing through Nature and Outdoors

Transcription

1 Health and Wellbeing through Nature and Outdoors Keeping older people physically and mentally fit! Lancashire Workforce Development Partnership 1. Health Benefits 2. Design and Use 3. Dementia Prevention Dr. Garuth Chalfont, PhD ASLA Chalfont Design Ripe4uk.org Preston Mar 26th 2015

2 1. Health Benefits Nature and being outdoors is therapeutic and contributes to health & wellbeing

3 Social and Therapeutic Horticulture Organisations Trellis (Scotland) Cultivations (Wales) Thrive (UK) Definition Process to personal well-being Use of plants Gardening Social aspect Person-centred care philosophy Focus on gardens and the environment Where you are matters! Place is an important aspect of the healing experience. Diagram from Thrive

4 Research evidence on the benefits of nature and the outdoors for people with dementia Nature and being outdoors provides sensory stimulation and improves orientation, circadian rhythms, blood pressure, attention, talkativeness... and it reduces agitation and aggression. Health Benefits

5 Research findings on the benefits of nature and the outdoors for people with dementia Health Benefits Benefits of exercise and movement include improved sleep patterns, mood, memory, behaviour, appetite, strength, agility, balance and delayed onset of dementia.

6 Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin Why do we need it? Specifically for older people: Improved Cognition Falls prevention Fracture prevention Osteoporosis Muscle weakness or Pain Physical performance Rheumatoid arthritis Senile warts Calcium & Vit D = strong bones & teeth Cancer prevention, Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Mood disorders, Multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis, Tuberculosis etc. Vitamin D3 and calcium prevent hip fractures in the elderly women Chapuy, 1992 NEJM showed reduction in fractures. Incidence of non-vertebral fractures in men and women over 65. Those taking 500mg Ca reduced fractures by 58% over the placebo control group. Recommendation: 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight 2-3 times a week (between 10am 3pm) arms and legs

7 What people need outside: 1. Pleasure, enjoyment, relaxation 2. To maintain skills 3. Physical activity and exercise 4. Meaningful occupation 5. Visiting and social interaction 6. Caring for something living 7. Escape from indoors 8. Peace and quiet 9. Sensory stimulation 10. To keep the spirit alive

8 NATURE ETHOS Engagement Occupation Purpose Being needed Enjoyment Health Benefits

9 Spiritual connection to life through access to the living world Health Benefits

10 2. Design and Use Architecture supports. Nature stimulates. People interact.

11 Direct visual connection to the garden from communal areas Design and Use

12 Locate outside spaces for shelter, sun and thermal comfort at key times of the day. Decide the building and gardens at the same time. Design and Use

13 Sheltered, covered areas over seating, walkways and entrances Design and Use

14 Emphasize living plants and green lushness Design and Use

15 Many specific features are important Design guidance is available Free Download Design and Use

16 Seasonal familiar plantings - useful, edible and beautiful Design and Use

17 Interactions with wildlife Design and Use

18 Wildlife habitat Ducklings hatched in nursing home garden, UK Pond and steps at a nursing home in Stuttgart Thrush nesting in pergola Design and Use

19 Domestic Animals

20 Take people outside and encourage independent use of the garden Design and Use

21 Enable activities Design and Use

22 Independent and supported use Design and Use

23 Orientation to season of the year Design and Use

24 Low, wide window ledges Design and Use

25 Connect inside rooms directly with outdoor uses Windows changed to doors Activity room Porch and raised beds Design and Use

26 Design for use: nature contact, jobs and social interaction. Design and Use

27 Care Farms Therapeutic use of farming practices to provide care services for groups of vulnerable people through supervised, structured activities Care Farming UK

28 3. Prevention, Delaying the Onset and Slowing the Decline

29 Prosentia Hypothesis B A PERSON NATURE PERSON Neurological implications of brain activity: Sensory stimulation Sensation - Perception Neuroplasticity Health Benefits

30 Healthy living through learning! on Facebook Training older people to stay physically & mentally fit

31 Dementia Beat Camp TM Singing, Music and Dancing DIET Brocolli, Spinach, Beetroot, Berries, Green Tea, Cocoa, Coffee, Salmon, Red Wine... Social Interaction Preventing, Delaying onset or Slowing decline Reducing stress and blood pressure Brain Training (Cognitive Stimulation) Antioxidants, Vitamins D, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Quit smoking Walking, Aerobic Exercise, Gardening, Resistance Training Genetics (something you maybe can t change...?)

32 Health and Wellbeing through Nature and Outdoors Keeping older people physically & mentally fit!

33 Health and Wellbeing through Nature and Outdoors 1. Health Benefits 2. Design and Use 3. Prevention