An Introduction to Healing Gardens and Creating Low-cost Wellness Features Oregon Office of Rural Health Oregon Health & Science University Presented by David Sacamano, ASLA, LEED AP HDR Portland Oregon & Seattle Washington
Healing Environments in Healthcare Setting Today s Presentation 1. Definition and Background 2. Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens 3. Garden Typology 4. Essential Elements, Design Framework and Design Process 5. Low Cost Opportunities for Critical Access Hospitals 6. Advantages of Therapeutic Gardens - Summary
Healing Environments in Healthcare Setting What is a Healing Garden? Healing Garden best used as broad, sweeping term to define plant dominated outdoor environments associated with hospitals and healthcare settings that promote human well being and healing. A Healing Garden may provide relief from the psychological distress of disease and an improved sense of well being American Horticultural Therapy Association
Current Theory on Healing and Restoration Why Are Healing Gardens Important? Renewed awareness of the connection between human well-being and interactions with nature Studies confirm the positive benefits of healing gardens for patients, hospital visitors and staff Access to nature can expedite healing, shorten hospital stays and reduce stress
Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens A Therapeutic Garden is designed to produce a given effect and outcome for a defined user group or population. Movement and Exercise Social Support Improved Health Natural Distractions Sense of Control
Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens Movement and Exercise: Rehabilitation Reduces stress, improves mood and even lowers depression Design Approach: provide trip destinations within a garden to motivate walking and wheelchair use Provide looped walkways
Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens Social Support: Patients, Family, Staff Contact with emotionally supportive persons reduces stress and improves health. Design Approach: provide variety of spaces with movable seating close to patient rooms and waiting rooms
Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens Sense of Control: Temporary Escape, Access to Privacy, Choices A sense of lack of control is a major problem in healthcare settings causing stress and worsens outcomes Design Approach: provide an environment for patient/family to escape and regain control
Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens Natural Distractions: Plants, Water, Natural Sounds, Wildlife Design Approach: Provide natural features and situations to promote stress reduction or restoration
Types of Therapeutic Gardens Restorative Meditative Rehabilitative Enabling
Types of Therapeutic Gardens Restorative: Primary Focus psychological/emotional Programmed for the regaining of homeostasis in a patient/user group To passively allow the body to regain balance after stressful events
Types of Therapeutic Gardens Meditative: Primary Focus psychological/spiritual Secondary Focus physical well being Designed to allow individuals or small groups to quietly reflect and turn inward in thought process
Types of Therapeutic Gardens Rehabilitative: Primary Focus physical Secondary Focus psychological and emotional stability of patients Programmed to parallel the treatment protocols of a target patient population (stroke, brain injury, heart attack)
Types of Therapeutic Gardens Enabling: Primary Focus anatomical, physiological Secondary Focus physical well being, psychological Designed to maintain and enhance the physical condition of a target patient population through programmed activities (muscle strength, range of motion, gross/fine motor skills, coordination)
Essential Elements of a Therapeutic Garden Accessible and visible from inside the facility Easily identifiable entrances Sense of safety/enclosure Water features and art Pathways and walking loops Comfortable, movable seating Shade, rain and wind protection 7:3 Landscape-Hardscape ratio
Therapeutic Garden Design Framework Therapeutic Garden Design Framework (Roger Ulrich) Sense of control and access to privacy Social Support Physical Movement and exercise Access to Nature and other positive distractions Minimize Ambiguity and Abstract Objects Minimize intrusive stimuli Planning and Design Process Programming Research Design Maintenance Plan Post-occupancy Evaluation
Low-cost Wellness Opportunities to CAHs Social Support Provide areas where patients, visitors and staff can gather and talk. Individuals who are isolated have higher levels of stress. Groupings of benches and seating Moveable tables and chairs Group gathering spaces
Low-cost Wellness Opportunities to CAHs Physical Movement and Exercise Safe, measured opportunities for walking, exercise, therapy and education. Paved walking paths around campus Distance markers, obstacles and challenge elements Places of respite every 100 feet Open lawn or paved areas for group activities
Low-cost Wellness Opportunities to CAHs Access to Nature and other Positive Distractions Provide access and views to outdoor areas where patients, visitors and staff can experience patterns, colors, sounds, scents and textures. Small perennial, rose or flower gardens Water features, sculpture and art Seasonal colors and scents Plantings that attract birds, butterflies and wildlife
Other Opportunities to CAHs Staff Areas Provide outdoor areas separated from patients and visitors for hospital staff to rest, renew and restore. Small plaza area with benches Outdoor dining terrace Covered, secured bike parking to encourage alternative transportation and recreation
Other Opportunities to CAHs Sustainable Design Elements Green design elements that can be incorporated into healthcare facilities that also support healing environment initiatives Trees: Provide trees that shade southern and western building exposures, provide sun protection to outdoor public areas and to shade parking facilities. Xeriscaping: Combination of drought tolerant and native plants, efficient irrigation, and proper soil care to create low maintenance, sustainable landscape areas. Stormwater Management: Use of vegetated swales, rain gardens and permeable pavements to reduce stormwater runoff and to restore natural drainage patterns. Local and Renewable Materials: Select site features comprised of local, recycled or renewable raw materials.
Benefits of Healing Gardens Advantages to healthcare facilities (Roger Ulrich, 1999) Probable advantages: Reduction of stress in patients, staff and visitors (very likely) Reduced pain in patients (likely) Reduction in depression (likely, especially if garden fosters exercise) Higher reported quality of life for chronic and terminally-ill, patients (likely, especially if garden fosters exercise) Potential advantages: Reduced costs: Length of stay shorter for certain patient categories; fewer strong pain medication doses Increased patient mobility and independence Higher patient satisfaction Increased staff job satisfaction
Healing Environments in Healthcare Facilities With the latest inclination to be well, we should not be sick Nature is but another name for health. Henry David Thoreau
An Introduction to Healing Gardens and Creating Low-cost Wellness Features Oregon Office of Rural Health Oregon Health & Science University Presented by David Sacamano, ASLA, LEED AP HDR Portland Oregon & Seattle Washington