A new report published by Natural England highlights how engagement with nature and the great outdoors could be improved for the benefit of people living with dementia and their carers.
In one of the biggest surveys of its kind so far, people living with dementia and their carers were asked about the outdoor activities that they take part in and the places where they go, or most want to go.
It reveals what motivates them to go outside and what barriers they think need to be overcome to improve their access to the outdoors and maximise the beneficial effect this brings for them.
The new study – Is it nice outside? Consulting people living with dementia and carers about engaging with the natural environment – is the result of a collaborative project between Natural England, Dementia Adventure, the Mental Health Foundation and Innovations in Dementia.
The report reveals that engaging in outdoor activities that have a purpose and those that involve being with other people provide the greatest motivation for people living with dementia.
Only 20% of the people living with dementia considered that their condition was a barrier to using outdoor spaces, whereas 83% of carers believed that dementia limited the person’s ability.
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