Green care adopts a range of interventions utilising nature’s elements to improve the social, physical, and mental well-being, promoting active community life¹. Drawing on the benefits of green care, our GreenConnect Dementia Respite Project aims to improve the quality of life of people with dementia (PWD) and reduce carer burden². We invited carers of PWD and our project consortium and steering committee to participate in the project co-design. We conducted two focus groups with carers and one consultation workshop with project the consortium and steering committee (n=35) between November 2023 and January 2024. We performed thematic analyses of the discussions, guided by the socio-ecological framework³. This revealed various care and model key components broadly themed around stakeholder training, screening and assessment, care planning, green care-themed respite activities and robust project evaluation plan. Participants stressed the need for a culturally-inclusive care model. Thus, our Project represents a comprehensive effort to develop and implement a novel model of dementia care rooted in green care principles, with a strong emphasis on stakeholder involvement, cultural appropriateness, and practical implementation strategies tailored to the needs of PWDs and their carers in rural and regional areas. The RE-AIM-guided model of care implementation will begin in March 2024.

¹Mmako et al. Green spaces, dementia and a meaningful life in the community: A mixed studies review. Health & Place. 2020;63:102344.

²Haubenhofer et al. The development of green care in western European countries. Explore. 2010;6(2):106-11.

³McLeroy et al. An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health education quarterly. 1988;15(4):351-77