April 15, 2022
Gardening is potentially a “long-term” memory for residents with dementia. Many residents grew up when they had to grow their own food in order to eat. People with dementia lose their short-term memory, but seem to relate back to their long-term memories. The recollections of when they were younger, working their hands in the soil, and growing food for the family and their animals are often comforting thoughts.
It is beneficial to connect individuals living with dementia to their long-term memories. Anything we can do to reach and capture those memories is beneficial. It’s like starting a book that you know how it ends, skipping through the chapters and reading the pages that open. We work to get the residents to open their minds up to sensory sensations around them: feeling, sensation, sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
This is one of my favorite poems:
Your mind is a garden
Your thoughts are the seeds
You can grow flowers
Or you can grow weeds.
Here at Hudson Grande Senior Living Hudson, OH to celebrate and participate in National Gardening month residents and staff are going to grow a garden and some new memories. We are going to learn which flowers to plant to help our local bees help us. We are considering starting a Green Thumb Club. It would be nice to take our memory care residents to one of the local sunflower fields.
CedarStone Senior Living is a comprehensive community offering independent living plus, assisted living, and memory care, accompanied by an array of services and floor plan options. Our amenities include upscale restaurant dining, a 24-hour bistro, housekeeping services, a vibrant calendar of events and entertainment, personalized care, convenient transportation options, inviting outdoor dining spaces and patios, a salon and barber shop, and much more. Nestled in the heart of the Greenhill Village Estates neighborhood, our community enjoys a tranquil yet well-connected setting, surrounded by the beauty of Greenhill Park, gardens, and golf courses. In addition to providing a serene environment, our location offers easy access to a plethora of outdoor activities and dining experiences. Plus, we’re conveniently close to top-tier medical and professional services. With our prime location, every excursion can transform into an adventure. Explore the charm of Main Street shopping, delve into local history at museums and historical events, or immerse yourself in the excitement of live theater performances. CedarStone Senior Living is at the center of the city’s cultural pulse, offering residents a vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle.