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Steven Wells
To research the development, use and management
of therapeutic gardens within healthcare settings Singapore, UK, USA
Therapeutic gardens in healthcare settings are designed to
meet the patient’s physical, emotional and psychological
needs and are often a component of a patient’s treatment
goals and program.
Healthcare environments are synonymous with times of
stress, anxiety and uncertainly of individual’s health.
Therapeutic gardens within hospitals are sought to provide
solace, respite and recovery by patients, their families and
staff. There is an increasing awareness within the healthcare
industry of the value of therapeutic gardens within the
provision of a holistic healthcare approach. Challenges lay in
the funding, development and management of these gardens
in order for them to be suitably managed and sustained.
The Fellowship provided me
with the opportunity to visit
exemplary locations and to meet
with passionate, knowledgeable
and experienced people.”
The exemplary hospitals with quality therapeutic gardens
were those that understood that the internal and external
environments of healthcare facilities are equally important
for the client’s health and wellbeing.
Hospitals that included a strong collaborative approach during
the design stage had the most successfully implemented
gardens that enabled longevity and sustainability of the
gardens, which in turn increased their usage, value and
effectiveness. This approach also facilitated increased
community involvement and support through funding and
volunteer engagement.
Quality indeed begets quality. Hospitals that integrated
therapeutic gardens with healthy lifestyle choices,
horticultural therapy programs and health messages for their
clients and staff were more successfully engaged with and
maintained. Therapeutic gardens are funded universally via
external funding largely from donors. Hospitals that included
a maintenance endowment component in the total project
costs at the initial funding stage were also the locations that
had successfully maintained gardens.
Pictured right The
Wilheit-Keys Peace
Garden in Gainesville
USA shows us that
healing goes beyond
the bedside
Pictured below left The Joel Schnaper Memorial
Garden in New York was built to serve individuals
with HIV/AIDS and their
caregivers
Therapeutic gardens that are developed at the entry interface
of hospitals achieved a greater use, appeal and overall benefit.
I observed many commonalities and similar challenges across
these locations that resonated with the Australian context
which highlighted that there are universal issues in
developing therapeutic gardens across the world. However,
the Fellowship has importantly provided valuable learnings
that can be implemented here in Australia to ensure that the
inclusion of therapeutic gardens in healthcare settings is
successfully achieved.
Download Steven’s full report from our website
churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/4085/Steven+Wells
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Returning Fellows Feature
Pictured above The Hope and Healing Garden
is Portland USA is a unique therapy garden for
psychiatric patients providing them with a
tranquil oasis within a secure environment