Diminished outdoor activity is likely to be experienced as a decrease in quality of life and may accelerate the progression of dementia we conclude that older people with mild to moderate dementia should be encouraged to be active outdoors and that this can be facilitated by small environmental modifications some limitations of the vr technology used for the study are also reported. Outdoor environments considered by planners or designers in terms of the opportunities and barriers they present for a person with dementia blackman et al 2003 there is evidence that the more that older people walk and take exercise the less their risk of dementia abbott et al 2004 larson et al 2006 scherder et al 2005 there are. Diminished outdoor activity is likely to be experienced as a decrease in quality of life and may accelerate the progression of dementia we conclude that older people with mild to moderate dementia. Outdoor environments for people with dementia explores how fulfilling the fundamental genetically based need of human relationships with nature can improve the health and well being of people with dementia top experts analyze current research and comprehensively examine how the design processes of gardens and parks can be closely connected to effective interventions evaluation tools for those with dementia are discussed including studies of the impact of plants and outdoor activities on