A new dementia-friendly garden, with an eye-catching pink safety floor, has opened at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital to help bring the therapeutic effects of nature to patients on a specialist ward.
Funded by a £43,000 grant from The QEH King’s Lynn Charity the garden was officially unveiled by Chief Executive Alice Webster with ward sister Sarah Champion who leads West Dereham Ward.
It provides integrated care for older people and those living with dementia and many of the ward’s patients came together in the garden – some in their beds – to enjoy afternoon tea and listen to local music entertainer Pops Phipps who transported patients back in time with classic songs.
The development of the dementia friendly garden has been a highly collaborative project and saw The QEH work closely with patients, carers and families – who chose the pink flooring – as well as the landscape architects, Bridge for Heroes and King’s Lynn Dementia Café who created and decorated bird boxes, feeders and bug hotels for the garden.
The garden will enhance the wellbeing of patients and provide a quiet area for contemplation as well as encourage patients to engage with the natural world.
It is clinically proven that a garden can help people living with dementia enjoys socialising and connect with others by creating a shares experience, to take part in physical activity and stimulate the senses and memories, all of which greatly improved their wellbeing.
Colourful and textured plants can also stimulate memories and cognitive activity for patients living with dementia, as well as memorable aromas such as rosemary or lavender.
The garden is also inclusive for other patients on the ward. Wheelchair users will have raised gardening beds for planting, and wheelchair accessible tables, and the terrace area will also allow hospital beds to be taken outside so that every patient can access fresh air.
Alice Webster, Chief Executive at the QEH, said: “We are so pleased to have collaborated with PRP Architects who have been working hard to create this important space for patients living with dementia, carers, and staff. This garden will provide a comfortable and safe environment away from the ward in tranquil setting.”
The garden is just one of the ways The QEH aim to make their hospital a better place for patients living with dementia. Thanks to charitable donations the Trust has improved the experience of patients living with dementia by funding specialist equipment, new activities, specialist therapies such as exercise therapy and creative activities.
The QEH King’s Lynn Charity (registered charity number1051327) exists to enhance patient, carer and staff experience through supporting projects, activities and training over and above that provided through the NHS. It relies on fundraising support, donations and legacies. To find out more about the QEH King’s Lynn charity or to donate, click here. For further information please email charity@qehkl.nhs.uk.
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For further information, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
To download the press release and photos, click here.
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