Press release
The Natural Answer to Transforming Life for People with Dementia
November 25, 2011
“This book is dedicated to all the people with dementia currently living in long term care who never go outside. Their plight motivated us to produce this book.”
- Acknowledgement
Imagine a life where you are restricted from going outdoors. You are prevented from feeling the warmth of the sun or the morning dew, from listening to birdsong in the trees, or smelling the fresh air and flowers in your garden. This is what life is like for 50% of all people with dementia living in care homes.
“We all live in the natural world with the sky above us and the earth below. Rain falls on all of us and the sun warms us… People with dementia are in the same world so why do we feel there is a need for this book? The answer is that we are concerned that people with dementia are often not able to experiencethe natural. They often live inside all the time.”
People living with dementia are often vulnerable, and need to be cared for whether in residential or care home settings. Many care home residents are never exposed to natural light, and have window constrictors that limit the amount of fresh air they can breathe. For those who have spent earlier years enjoying all the great outdoors has to offer, this can be a tough adjustment and life limiting. That is why Jane Gilliard and Mary Marshall have edited Transforming the Quality of Life for People with Dementia through Contact with the Natural World (pubished by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, RRP £15.99, ISBN: 9781849052672), to show that anybody can help improve a person with dementia’s sense of wellbeing and happiness, simply by enhancing their sensory experiences through nature.
Whether engaging in a spot of gardening, going for a walk on the beach or simply sitting and taking in the natural surroundings, there is no doubt that these simple pleasures can and do enhance the quality of life for many people living with dementia. Quality of life doesn’t need to cost money, and the basic needs of individuals can easily be met in these pressured economic times by making the best of our natural surroundings. If you would like to speak to the authors, or would like a press copy of the book please contact Ruth Tewkesbury on 020 7833 2307 or email ruth.tewkesbury@jkp.com
Further information
- Author: Jane Gilliard
- Author: Mary Marshall
