A University Project for Dementia in the UK
Helping older people living with dementia or cognitive impairment get outdoors and connect with nature
ENLIVEN was a 3-year programme running from March 2021 to February 2024 based at the University of Exeter, involving an expert team from Brunel, Hertfordshire, Manchester Metropolitan, and Bradford Universities, as well as Innovations In Dementia and The Sensory Trust.
Throughout its duration, ENLIVEN worked with small businesses to make the wellbeing benefits of outdoor activity more accessible to older people with cognitive impairment, such as memory problems resulting from dementia or a stroke. The primary focus was to enable individuals to maintain their activity levels, independence, and social connections through increased engagement in outdoor activities.
“We know that a lot of people, particularly older people, and people with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families, can find it difficult to get out and about to places that they love. It’s really important for people to enjoy being outdoors and benefit from the experience.
The ENLIVEN programme was all about making this easier for older people with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families. We wanted to work with people who managed outdoor spaces and looked after outdoor spaces to see how we could make those spaces more accessible for people, and that’s what this programme was all about.”
Professor Linda Clare
Chief Investigator
The ENLIVEN knowledge exchange event ‘Harnessing nature to create dementia-inclusive visitor experiences’ held at the Tower of London on 31st January 2024 brought together businesses, people with dementia, and researchers to share learning from the ENLIVEN demonstration projects. Recordings of the presentations can be viewed here:
