Sensory Garden Opens for Dementia Patients in Colchester

A sensory garden, created by patients at the Kings Wood Centre, Colchester with a little help from their friends, and staff was officially opened on Wednesday, 3 October 2018.

Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Peter Chillingworth and Mayoress of Colchester, Mrs Ann Chillingworth and Natalie Hammond, Executive Director of Nursing at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) cut a ribbon to officially open the sensory garden. 

Patients together with their families and friends worked with staff to create the garden which will provide a space for reflection and interacting with the environment, utilise their skills and knowledge, regain their self-esteem and be physically and mentally active.

5000 people are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease in North East Essex.

The memory assessment clinic sees over 100 patients a month for an assessment of their memory and currently almost 600 patients are being assessed and diagnosed by this service.

The number of people under 65 who are being diagnosed with Dementia is growing. Approximately 20% of the patients seen by the Memory Assessment Clinic are under 65.

Natalie Hammond, Executive Director of Nursing at EPUT said: “The sensory garden is a wonderful achievement which will be of great benefit to our patients. It allows patients with Dementia to explore their environment in a safe and therapeutic setting. It is a place where patients can come to for a bit of quiet time and reflection. This is a really good example of how we involve our patients in their care.”