‘Moments in Time’ dementia-friendly garden moving to Arklow

While many of the spectacular show gardens from Bloom were dismantled earlier this week, one is to find a new home in Arklow.

The ‘Moments in Time – Dementia: Understand Together Garden’, which received a bronze medal at Bloom, is to be installed at the Arklow Duck Pond, nature walk and lesiure area, close to the Arklow Bay Hotel.

The garden was designed by Baltinglass company Newtown Saunders Ltd, in conjunction with TrinityHaus and Sonas apc and is an initiative of the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, led by the HSE in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Genio.

The announcement was made fol- lowing an invitation by the Dementia: Understand Together campaign for applications from publicly-funded organisations and residential care centres nationwide to take ownership of the garden after Bloom.

Councillor Tommy Annesley, cathaoirleach Arklow Municipal District, has welcomed the news and believes the garden will be another feather in Arklow’s cap.

‘Many families, including my own, have been touched by dementia and I feel that this is a positive step in improving the social needs of people with dementia and their families,’ said Cllr Annesley. ‘I am delighted that, Arklow, my home town, has won this competition and know that this beautiful garden will benefit many people with dementia and will encourage people to connect with the outdoors in an area that provides a diverse mix of amenities.’

For Professor Brian Lawlor, Chair of the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, that the garden’s new home in Arklow is the perfect fit.

‘Key to the successful application by Arklow Municipal District is the involvement of an active and engaged local community and, in particular, the Lily of the Valley Day Centre, Arklow Tidy Towns, the Arklow Bay Hotel and the Arklow Town Team. With the support of these partners, we believe that the garden is in very good hands and that it will continue to be maintained to the highest standards,’ said Prof Lawlor.

‘We know that there is a wide range of initiatives already under way in the town to support people with dementia and their carers, and so this garden will add to existing local efforts to reduce stigma and enhance supports for people with dementia in creating a more dementia-inclusive community.’

Sinead Grennan from Sonas apc, a member of the garden design team, said the garden ‘will provide a calm, relaxing place for people to experience togetherness and understanding with others.’

Laurence Collins from the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Wicklow Support Group believes the garden will encourage other parts of the country to Arklow as a model for dementia care.

‘I wish to acknowledge the continued work of the volunteer group and the people of Arklow who contribute enormously to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland.

‘I also wish to acknowledge the working group who put together the application for this competition. Their efforts will assist many families for years to come by enhancing the quality of life for people with dementia and their loved ones,’ he said.

For more information on the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, visit www.understandtogether. ie or freephone 1800 341 341.