Date of Award
8-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Member
Marieke Van Puymbroeck, Committee Chair
Committee Member
Brent Hawkins
Committee Member
Julie Vidotto
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of sensory gardens on agitation and quality of life for people with dementia. The sensory garden consisted of plants that stimulated all the senses. Four people diagnosed with dementia residing in assisted living participated in the multiple treatment single-subject design (A1-B-BC-A2) study. Baseline phase A1 lasted two-weeks, intervention B and BC were four-weeks each, and return to baseline A2 was two-weeks, for a total of 12 weeks. Intervention B was an indoor sensory garden and intervention BC was an approximated outside sensory garden. Data revealed positive trends following the sensory garden interventions on decreasing agitation and improving quality of life. Intervention B worked best for two participants and intervention BC for the remaining two participants. Applications to recreational therapy practice are provided.
Recommended Citation
Collins, Haley Elizabeth, "The Impact of a Sensory Garden Intervention for Individuals with Dementia" (2019). All Theses. 3168.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/3168