The Children’s Garden at Legacy Emanuel Medical CenterGardens have been known to provide comfort and therapeutic healing, and one medical center in Portland is taking advantage of that research.
The Legacy Emanuel Medical Center’s Family Birth Center and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is going see the installation of a therapeutic terrace garden.
The center was recently awarded a $560,000 grant to fund the are from the TFK Foundation’s National Nature Sacred Award Program.
The area will be used as a place of healing but also as a place of research.
Local chapters from the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association were involved with the planning of the garden and the studies.
After the garden is completed, three studies will investigate its impact:
- The study of women giving birth will measure the extent to which garden enriched care lessens their discomfort, pain and stress, and thereby benefits the condition of their babies at birth.
- The family study will identify personal benefits experienced by family members of cardiovascular intensive care unit patients. These family members will be invited into the therapeutic garden adjacent to the unit.
- The nurse study will evaluate how spending designated time in the garden affects work stress management.
The 6,800-square-foot garden will feature:
- Destination places to provide privacy for stress management, restoration and reflection
- Perimeters created by arbors, a water wall and four seasons of specially selected garden plants
- Wind sails and covered areas to protect from sun, rain and wind
- A children’s activity area
Construction of the garden is planned to begin in August 2013 with completion three to six months later.
