Nature as an intervention in dementia: a qualitative pilot study

Being outdoors in a natural environment is thought to be restorative and relaxing (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989). For people with dementia, nature and outdoor spaces (‘ingericht groen’) can provide a stimulating environment with exposure to light and sensory experiences (Burns et al. 2002; GuissetMartinez et al., 2013) as well as engagement in pleasant activities (Mac-Donald, 2002). It is reported that both nature in general (Ottossen & Grahn 2005) and outdoor spaces (Kaplan & Kaplan 1990, Milligan et al. 2004) are beneficial in dementia care. Although the evidence base is still quite small, recently, two articles were published on this topic that are very insightful.