Debbie Carroll MBALI shares key findings for designing for care settings

Accredited Designer, Debbie Carroll shared the evidence-based findings of her research into designing gardens for dementia at RHS Wisley this month as part of the London College of Garden Designs short course programme. If you missed this then you will be pleased to hear she will be presenting at Futurescape 2023 on 22 November, ExCel London, in the Nurture Theatre.

Debbie presented her workshop ‘Designing actively used gardens for people living with dementia’ at RHS Wisley this month as part of the London College of Garden Designs short course programme. This was delivered to a wide-ranging group of students, gardeners working in care settings, practising designers and also some who were caring for family members living with dementia.

This workshop brought a wide range of insights to the day as it explored the research around the influence of carers and care organisations on successfully using the garden. Through a number of thought-provoking stories a range of ‘Hidden Dangers’ were uncovered where our own roles, as designers, can inadvertently build new barriers or even prevent engagement outside in the longer term.

The amazing setting of the RHS Hilltop venue, surrounded by the new wildlife, food and well-being gardens gave an opportunity for a breath of fresh air, some inspiration and a reminder of the often simple things we enjoy finding in a garden that can make it so special. This was related back to what might be most beneficial in care-related gardens and a checklist was used to explore this further and identify how to avoid adding gimmicks, infantilising people with dementia or adding items that may quickly become unused.

If you missed this event and are interested in this field then you will be able to hear Debbie speak at Futurescape 2023 this year where she will be exploring some of these themes.

To learn more about designing care-friendly gardens, visit www.stepchange-design.co.uk for more information and publications on this research.