Table of Contents:
Quote of the Day
Interesting Stories This Week
Caregiver Support Program WAITLIST
The Benefits of Gardening
Responding to YOU!
Personalised Support for Dementia Caregivers WAITLIST
The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else
Interesting Stories This Week:
FDA Clears First Blood Test Used in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
Police launch dementia support scheme
Boots launches new memory box initiative for people with dementia
One Stage of Sleep Seems Critical For Reducing Risk of Dementia
Early dementia symptoms may vary across different ethnicities
The benefits of gardening
In 2015, Norway became one of the first countries to create a National Dementia Care Plan.
This included the government offering day care services, which included ‘Care Farms’.
There are significant cognitive benefits of working on the land and more communities are integrating gardening and healthcare.
The idea is of socially prescribed activities in nature or ‘green prescriptions.
These prescriptions can increase physical activity and social connection while reducing stress.
Gardening has specific cognitive benefits.
Gardeners experience gains in nerve levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factors [BDNF]. A protein that plays an important role in the growth and survival of neurons.
A 2006 study from the University of New South Wales followed Australian men and women throughout their 60s and found that those who gardened on a daily basis had a 36% lower risk of developing dementia than those who didn’t.
Being outdoors, planting and growing vegetables creates a positive environment.
Gardening has been shown to improve attention, lessen stress, reduce falls and lower reliance on medication.
It helps with hand dexterity, muscle mass, aerobic endurance and increased mobility.
Research suggests that for people living with dementia, these benefits hold extra value by improving mood, behaviour and their ability to communicate.
A Problem Shared is a Problem Halved
Every week, we hear powerful, honest, and deeply moving insights from caregivers like you- and we don’t want them to sit unseen.
This Week’s Caregiver Story
"I feel like I’m constantly second-guessing myself. Am I doing the right thing? Am I making it worse? Some days I feel like I’m completely out of my depth, but there’s no one else to step in."
Harvey says:
What you’re describing is something I hear all the time, and I want to be very clear about this:
Doubt doesn’t mean you’re failing; it means you care.
Caring for someone with dementia often means making decisions with no perfect answers. There’s no manual, no clear line between right and wrong. You’re doing your best in a situation that’s constantly changing, and that in itself is an act of love.
Over the years, I’ve seen caregivers thrive not because they got it “right” every time, but because they gave themselves permission to learn, adapt, and keep showing up with compassion.
Structured tools like iCST exist to support exactly this. They give you a framework so you’re not constantly carrying it all alone or making it up as you go.
You’re not expected to be perfect. You just need support, and that is always available to you.
Harvey
If something’s been on your heart lately, let us know. We read every word. Your voice could offer comfort to someone else navigating the same journey.
Join the Waitlist for Inner Circle: Personalised Support for Dementia Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. We’re launching Inner Circle, an expert-led support programme designed to give caregivers like you rapid access to guidance, reassurance, and a supportive small-group environment.
Choose from 3 membership tiers to suit your needs, whether you want monthly peace of mind or weekly advice to manage symptoms in real time. From handling difficult behaviours to preventing burnout, you’ll gain expert insights, confidence, and a caring community.
📝 Spots are limited- join the waitlist now to be the first to hear when we open the doors.