IMPLEMENTING GREEN CARE FARMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN GERMANY

Abstract Background Green care farms, which offer care for people with dementia in a farm setting, have been emerging in the Netherlands. The aim of this study was to 1) implement green care farms which use rice farming in Japan, 2) explore the positive experiences of rice farming care, and 3) compare the effect of rice farming care to that of usual care on well-being and cognitive ability. Methods We developed a new method of green care farm in Japan which uses rice farming, a farming that is practiced all over East Asia. The participants were 15 people with dementia (mean age = 75.6 ± 9.8 years) who participated in a one-hour rice farming care program once a week for 25 weeks. We also collected qualitative data on the positive experiences of study participants after the program. As a reference data, we also collected the corresponding data of the usual care group which included 14 people with dementia (mean age = 79.9 ± 5.8 years) who were attending the near-by day-care. Results The mean participation rate on the rice farming care group was 72.1%. After the intervention, participants reported experiencing enjoyment and connection during the program. It also changed the staff’s view on dementia. The green care farm group showed a significant improvement in well-being but no significant difference in cognitive function compared to the usual care group. Conclusions Green care farms by using rice farming is promising care method which is evidence-based, empowerment-oriented, strengths-based, community-based dementia service, which also delivers meaningful experience for the people with dementia in East Asia. Trial registration UMIN, UMIN000025020, Registered 1 April 2017.

Download Full-text

The Physical Environment of Nursing Homes for People with Dementia: Traditional Nursing Homes, Small-Scale Living Facilities, and Green Care Farms

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare6040137 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 137 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Bram de Boer ◽

Hanneke Beerens ◽

Melanie Katterbach ◽

Martina Viduka ◽

Bernadette Willemse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Well Being ◽

Nursing Home Care ◽

Small Scale ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Different Types ◽

Centered Care ◽

Green Care Farms

It is well recognized that the physical environment is important for the well-being of people with dementia. This influences developments within the nursing home care sector where there is an increasing interest in supporting person-centered care by using the physical environment. Innovations in nursing home design often focus on small-scale and homelike care environments. This study investigated: (1) the physical environment of different types of nursing homes, comparing traditional nursing homes with small-scale living facilities and green care farms; and (2) how the physical environment was being used in practice in terms of the location, engagement and social interaction of residents. Two observational studies were carried out. Results indicate that the physical environment of small-scale living facilities for people with dementia has the potential to be beneficial for resident’s daily life. However, having a potentially beneficial physical environment did not automatically lead to an optimal use of this environment, as some areas of a nursing home (e.g., outdoor areas) were not utilized. This study emphasizes the importance of nursing staff that provides residents with meaningful activities and stimulates residents to be active and use the physical environment to its full extent.

Download Full-text

Decentralisation of long-term care in the Netherlands: the case of day care at green care farms for people with dementia

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x13000937 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 704-724 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

STÉPHANIE J. M. NOWAK ◽

CLAUDIA C. M. MOLEMA ◽

CAROLINE A. BAAN ◽

SIMON J. OOSTING ◽

LENNEKE VAANDRAGER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Day Care ◽

Central Government ◽

Municipal Services ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Services ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Green Care Farms

ABSTRACTResponsibility for health and social care services is being delegated from central to local authorities in an increasing number of countries. In the Netherlands, the planned transfer of responsibility for day care for people with dementia from the central government to municipalities is a case in point. The impacts of this decentralisation process for innovative care concepts such as day care at green care farms are largely unknown. We therefore interviewed representatives of municipalities and green care farms to explore what consequences they expected of decentralisation for their organisations and people with dementia. Our study shows that communication and collaboration between municipalities and green care farms is relatively limited. Consequently, municipalities are insufficiently aware of how green care farms can help them to perform their new tasks and green care farmers know little about what municipalities expect from them in the new situation. We therefore recommend that municipalities and green care farms keep each other informed about their responsibilities, duties and activities to ensure a tailored package of future municipal services for people with dementia.

Download Full-text