Taking care of Dementia patients often brings stress and discouragement to family carers. To evaluate an accessible way to relieve their pressures, Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) has collaborated with the University of Hong Kong's Department of Social Work and Social Administration to conduct the city’s first study on providing evidence that nature healing activity can relieve carers’ mental healthiness, reducing their burden and improving overall wellbeing, which records a higher level of improvement than art therapy.

The study was conducted from April to July and involved 104 pairs of caregivers and patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia. The experimental group (53 pairs) participated in three sessions of nature healing activities, which designed by a certified forest therapist; the control group (51 pairs) participated in three sessions of art therapies. Participants were interviewed before and after all sessions to measure how those activities affect their mental health.

The mentioned nature healing activities lasted around 90 minutes each. Under the instruction of social workers trained by the forest therapist, participants would explore around the designated park to enjoy total sensory experience provided by the nature, and shared their feelings to others. After each session, participants had to practice once on their own and conduct self-evaluation.

Research results showed that the experimental group had a significant improvements in symptoms of depression (-24.2%), anxiety (-23.9%), and caregiver burden (-11.4%) overall compared to the control group. In terms of the level of depression and anxiety, carers who participated in the nature healing activities showed an increase in symptoms reaching a ‘normal’ level (with increases of 13% and 19% respectively), with those at ‘borderline normal’ and 'abnormal' level decreased, reflecting that the activities effectively helping over 10% of carers restore their emotional state to a healthy level.

Dr. Jacky Choy, Research Assistant Professor of Department of Social Work and Social Administration at HKU, stated that this study reflects the significant benefits of nature healing activities in improving mental health of caregivers by strengthening their sensory perception, even without any intervention into daily caring situations. He added that carers usually do not leave their patients within sight, therefore spending time in parks nearby together could be more accessible to them. 

Joan Hon, Chief Officer of Aged Care and Community Health Services, mentioned that by touching and smelling different kinds of plants, could give carers an intriguing sensory experience, which is crucial in terms of relieving their mental stress. She added that although Hong Kong does not have big forest areas like other countries, with specific techniques carers can also benefit from the environment in community.

With the proven benefits brought by the research, YWCA will hold more than ten "Nature's Five Senses Tours" in next six months, with social workers trained to lead caregivers and elderly in sensory healing activities. Interested individuals please call 26767067 for more information.