Reports have stated that gardens and even a Hills Hoist washing line might help soothe dementia patients. Following this, some nursing homes are now installing these retro features to help dementia patients.

Bupa Australia states that the company has provided dementia gardens to nursing homes treating dementia patients and is fitting some of its nursing homes with items from the 1950s and '60s to enable residents engage with a familiar item from their early years.

Bupa Australia group director of nursing Maryann Curry, said anecdotal evidence has been found that states providing patients familiar objects from the past did help settle them and the company was examining how major the benefit could be.

She said, ''Their facial expression actually changes. We often see in their faces the joy of that moment. They are comfortable in that moment and we know after walking away they have forgotten about the barbecue but the sense of wellbeing remains.''

A Bupa survey has found that more than 50 per cent of people in aged care have some level of diagnosed dementia and many more without a formal diagnosis.