Elderly healthcare house: engaging patients and staff in healing garden design

Objectives. Patient-specific gardens can provide general benefits related to the restorative effects of nature and respond to the specific needs of a particular patient population. These needs are to be considered in the design of outdoor space for healthcare. Our goal was to design a patient-specific garden for elderly people who live in healthcare house or use day center services (RSA Famagosta, Milano). Methods. A participatory design process was used through the organization of focus groups. A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about a topic. Focus groups allowed us to study patients, visitors and professionals in a more natural setting than a one-to-one interview. Results. With this approach, users work closely together to create a program that has been implemented by landscape architects to design a patient-specific garden, that includes elements such as different walking surfaces, slopes, steps, parallel bars, differing planter edge heights and plant labels, and other facilities that can be used in rehabilitative activities. Discussion. The participatory process involving designers, clinical staff, patients and family members has been appreciated because the users felt involved in the decision process. After the garden is built, healthcare professionals, designers and researchers will collaborate to discern the therapeutic benefits of this garden.