A Surprising Health Benefit of Gardens

There's even more reason to love a beautifully designed garden. Green spaces may be extremely helpful to dementia patients, according to a new study from the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom.
Scientists looked at 17 different studies on the health effects of gardens on dementia patients in nursing homes. They found that the studies suggested "decreased levels of agitation were associated with garden use." Green areas can give patients opportunities to garden, walk, and sit in a soothing place, all of which may make a person feel calmer.
The scientists recommend that future research should be done, with a separate focus on how some patients might not be able to get access to gardens because of limited staff in nursing homes. One of the paper's authors, Ruth Garside, told Fast Co Design, "There's a lot we don't know about how a garden's design and setting influences its ability to affect well-being, yet it's clear that these spaces need to offer a range of ways of interacting — to suit different people's preferences and needs."
Photo: Darrell Gulin/Getty

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