Evaluating the Impact of Community Gardening on Sense of Purpose for Persons Living with Dementia: A Cluster-Randomized Pilot Study.

Background: Gardening has been shown to have positive effects on persons living with dementia, but no studies have explored the effects of gardening on sense of purpose.

Objective: Explore how gardening may influence sense of purpose for people with dementia.

Methods: Ten residents with dementia diagnoses living in a skilled care facility participated in hour-long gardening sessions twice weekly at outdoor raised beds over a two-month duration. One group ( n  = 5) donated vegetables to a food pantry while the other ( n  = 5) harvested produce for personal use. Semi-structured interviews with participants and their caregivers conducted post-intervention were analyzed for themes.

Results: Participants and caregivers reported biopsychosocial benefits of gardening, identifying four main themes: 1) Gardening outdoors provided specific physical benefits that improved quality of life; 2) Working on a project in a group setting improved mood and fostered a sense of community; 3) Gardening promoted reminiscence and reinforced a sense of self; 4) Gardening provided participants with a sense of purpose and pride.

Conclusion: Gardening has biopsychosocial benefits for persons living with dementia, and there appears to be additive benefit linked to improved sense of purpose via charitable giving.