In later years he became a mental health activist, and created the "Ted Gärdestad Stipend", a prize awarded to amateur singers and songwriter.

[6] In 2018, he won an honorary Grammis award, citing "his many years in the music industry and for his work in it, and many wonderful lyrics.

"[7] Gärdestad, with Keijo Liimatainen, wrote Jag vill ha en egen måne (2005), a biography about his brother Ted and the circumstances surrounding his suicide in 1997.

[9] Gärdestad was a special guest on the show Så mycket bättre in 2016, which was broadcast on Swedish national television station TV4.

[11] The last episode of the 2016 season featured the season's chosen singers performing several of his brother's well-known hits,[11] including "Helt nära dig" (interpreted by Little Jinder), "Sommarlängtan" (by Magnus Carlson), "Himlen är oskyldigt blå" (by Jill Johnson), "505 to Casablanca" (by Freddie Wadling), "Sol, vind och vatten" (by Lisa Ekdahl), "I den stora sorgens famn" (by Tommy Nilsson) and "För kärlekens skull" (by Danny Saucedo).

[17] He was the creator of the annual "Ted Gärdestad Stipend" awarded to amateur singers and songwriters since 1999 to promote their work.

[19][20][21] Gärdestad's brother Ted was a noted Swedish singer, who represented Sweden in Eurovision with one of Kenneth's songs.