With this beautiful spring weather, it is time to discuss something I have been thinking about lately - gardening with Alzheimer’s patients. You’ll need a raised bed so it is easy for the patient to work. A wide, low wall that he or she can actually sit on is ideal and not too expensive to make if you use cinder blocks, rebar and cement to make it. Remember not to make the bed too wide or long. You want to be able to easily reach the entire bed from one side or the other.
Go two layers of block high and hammer the rebar down through the open sections of two blocks to anchor them into the ground. (I set mine so that half of two bottom blocks were under the top layer. Staggering them this way makes the wall sturdier.) When you are finished securing the wall with rebar, pour cement into the holes and smooth it out to make a level top for your well. Let it cure.

After the cement has hardened for a day or so, it is time to fill the bed with soil. I use a combination of one part manure, one part compost and two parts top soil. Fill the bed to the rim. The soil will settle on its own in a few days to leave room for mulch. Now, you have a place where Alzheimer’s patients, including those who are wheelchair bound, can garden easily.

Posted by on 05.06.2007 • Alzheimers Patient Activity Ideas