Aging and Dementia

HEALING GARDENS

	Primary Education
	Higher Education
	Parks, Open Space & Recreation
	Corporate & Office Projects
	Housing & Multi-Family Residences
	Medical Facilities
	Healing Gardens
	Aging and Dementia
	Private Residential Gardens
	Public Facilities
	Churches & Religious Facilities

What is a Healing Garden?
Healing gardens are specialized landscapes purposely designed to address the physical, psychological and emotional well-being of the people using them. This includes patients/residents, family members, staff and visitors to healthcare facilities. Healthcare environments where healing gardens are found include hospitals, hospices, cancer centers, children’s hospitals and rehabilitation units. More recently a national trend is to incorporate healing and rehabilitative gardens into retirement communities, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer’s units, and adult day care facilities.

How do Healing Gardens Work?
Research indicates when people have access to nature, whether it is a view from a window or physical emersion in a garden environment—stress reduction results. People’s blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones decrease while their tolerance for physical pain increases. In dementia and aging environments there are measurable decreases in depression, agitation, wandering and violent behaviors.

A properly designed healing garden will provide people with opportunities for movement and exercise, social interaction, a sense of perceived control, and access to natural distractions like wildlife, flowers or water. Each of these factors has the ability to reduce stress responses; thereby increasing the likelihood for healing to occur.

Profile and Philosophy
Sherry Pratt Van Voorhis

Prior to entering the field of landscape architecture Anne spent 16-years in the healthcare profession where the majority of her patients were senior citizens. She discovered that specializing in design of healing gardens and aging environments is the perfect blend of both professions. This unique pairing affords her the ability to understand the needs of patients, healthcare staff, administrators, and family members using the garden. Every project begins by listening carefully to her clients and understanding how people intend to use the garden. Anne believes that an effective design will result in positive outcomes for the user—whether it’s a momentary mental escape that occurs when viewing and hearing a bubbling fountain, or the feeling that arises when reconnecting with a loved one in a meaningful way in the garden setting.

Healing Gardens Portfolio FAQ Aging & Dementia

Home :: About Us :: Portfolio :: News :: Contact Us