Background: The effect on resident behaviors of adding a wander garden to an existing dementia facility was investigated.
Methods: 34 male residents were observed for 12 months before and after opening the garden. Behaviors were assessed using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Form (CMAI), incident reports, as needed medications (pro re nata [PRN]), and surveys of staff and residents' family members as indices of affect.
Results: Final CMAI scores and total PRNs employed were lower than baseline values with a trend for residents who used the garden more often to have less agitated behavior. Verbal inappropriate behaviors did not change significantly whereas physical incidents increased. Staff and family members felt that the wander garden decreased inappropriate behaviors and improved mood and quality of life of the dementia residents.
Conclusions: Study design characteristics and garden management may have affected behaviors both positively and negatively. Additional studies are needed to explore the benefits of wander gardens for dementia residents.