They tell one another stories about residents doing things out in the garden.” (p. 346) It was apparent that the staff also interacted with the garden with the residents and on their own during their

breaks. For some staff, this was a new and rewarding experience and it appeared to help them enjoy their work more and encouraged them to use the garden to help residents too.25 and 27 Many studies reported on the perceived impact that the gardens had on the residents (and in some cases on the staff as well17 and 25). This theme sits closely with the quantitative research findings: there were several reports of the gardens reducing the levels of agitation in residents both overall Member of staff – “We are Ceritinib research buy taking residents from the dementia unit out into the garden in the afternoon and this is preventing them becoming agitated later in the day.” (Raske 27, p. 344, edits in the original) and for specific incidents: Member of staff – “Some of them … when they get agitated and stuff … you know, you can ask them, ‘Would

you like to see more go outside for a little while?’ And for some of them it really cools them down. It calms them to be outside and away from whatever was agitating them.” (Hernandez 25, p. 135, reviewer edit) Some studies reported that the gardens made the residents seem happier: Member of staff – “We walk them. Well, depending on the weather, we try to walk them at least twice a week around the garden they have out there. Sometimes … I know in Pod One [Pod One being the highest functioning of the three pods], when the residents come back they’re more … um, happy. You notice a difference in them. You know, it might not be very drastic, but there’s something noticed that’s different. They’re not as they were before they went walking outside.” triclocarban (Hernandez 25, p. 138, edits in the original) Staff in the studies also mentioned other therapeutic benefits, including perceived improvements in quality of life, relaxation, and escapism, as well as the potential to reduce the administration of medications. Member of staff – “When I take residents out into the garden, especially

those from the dementia care unit who don’t speak, they make a deep sigh, as if they are at peace.” (Raske 27, p. 346, edits in the original) For visitors, the garden provided a normalizing context for their visits, which made them more relaxed and enjoyable: Family member – “I can’t say how much of a difference the garden has made for [name]. Today I have taken her up on the viewing platform and we wrote a letter, she talked about the birds, she loves animals. It’s relaxing for us both to be out here. It has definitely improved [name's] quality of life and I enjoy coming more too.” (Edwards et al 17, p. 12, edits in original) These extracts focus on the garden and seem to provide further support for the notion of “pleasure” being an underlying benefit, but here too perhaps relaxation plays an important part.