In March 2021 Australian-Filipino Community Services opened a new dementia-friendly Reminiscing Garden in Doveton, Victoria.
Developed in collaboration with local Samoan and Tamil community members, the garden creates a space for culturally and linguistically diverse seniors to celebrate and share memories, and to talk about the challenges of dementia.
Project Manager and Australian-Filipino Community Services Chaplain Norminda Forteza felt that the therapeutic physical and psychosocial benefits associated with gardening and plant-sharing could be replicated on a larger scale to support people living with dementia, and their families and carers.
The project to build the garden engaged people living with dementia and their carers during the planning processes.
Today, people living with dementia, their families and friends are invited to the garden to share a plant, assist in repotting plants, or use the space for reminiscing while surrounded by familiar sights and scents of their favourite plants and flowers. The garden also provides a space for community events and celebrations.