Debbie Carroll designs speaks at UK Dementia Congress
BALI Accredited Designer Debbie Carroll was selected to speak at this years UK Dementia Congress as part of a session on ‘Care Home Activities’. This evidence-based event shares the latest best practice to those who support people living with dementia. Within the care sector and a range of other specialities.
This is the 6th time for Debbie at this event since 2015, and this year uncovered the findings of her research into what makes care setting gardens more actively used.
This study, undertaken with fellow designer Mark Rendell, identified the key role of the organisation’s culture on the likely success of using the outside spaces with residents, particularly for people living with dementia.
With an increase in care settings wanting to create more actively used gardens since the pandemic, Debbie explores how to work effectively with garden designers to ensure changes lead to a well-used and well-loved space beyond the initial novelty period.
Based on their research and latest publication, ‘Why don’t we go into the garden? – A Designer Handbook for Creating Actively Used Care Setting Gardens’, it will explore a ‘Relationship-Centred Design’ approach for care settings working with garden designers and other specialists.
This approach keeps the care settings as the expert, with changes over time, allowing for the care setting to make changes to practices alongside interests, needs, and mix of residents over time.
