SARAH TAYLOR

Plants have always played a significant part in the healing process of human beings. The National Garden Bureau has noted “as early as 3000 BC, the Chinese were using medicinal herbs.” The Greek built temples and gardens to their gods for the purpose of healing. They incorporated healing pools and springs rich in minerals. In 1879, physicians in a psychiatric hospital observed patients that worked in the gardens. They noticed the patients had lower anxiety. Therefore, the physicians had come to the conclusion that the gardens provided a curative state.

Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and treatment centers, among other facilities, began incorporating gardens during the past few decades. These gardens have become part of patients’ and their families’ care. Positive results have been recorded and have shown that patients required fewer pain medications and in some cases had shorter hospital stays.

Healing gardens provide a quiet, relaxing place for patients, families and even medical staff to escape from the intensity of illness. The gardens provide inspiration to those whom take a moment to absorb the magic of the elements, within the special space.

There are many elements that are included in a healing garden. Bright, vivid colors and the smell of various plants are alluring to the senses. Some gardens have herbs, vegetables and fruits that are edible. The aromatic essence of the garden is captivating. Pathways wind their way through the cultivated landscape. Benches, pavilions and pagodas provide private areas for people to sit and take in their surroundings. Water features are particularly refreshing and healing. Fountains, statuary and ornate rocks provide focal points for meditation and reflection. Many times these sights, smells and sounds take people back to happy memories. These memories create joy and peace.

Many creators of these special horticultural oasis strategically choose plants that attract birds, butterflies and wildlife. Butterflies are particularly important to the garden aspect because of their representation of transformation and change. Whether a person is going through treatment, expecting a baby or experiencing a loss of a loved one, their world is changed. These gardens are placed at hospitals, cancer treatment centers and hospice inpatient houses. Everyone is welcome to experience the healing power. Many patients, staff and family members frequent these gardens to gain the balance of mind, body and spirit.

The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice House is a place where families are engulfed by care, compassion and love. This facility has provided a profound service to hundreds of families at the most crucial time in their lives. Many of the families that have been touched by the tenderness of the staff, volunteers and the community continue to return to the facility to revisit that place of comfort.

The hospice house is a community resource open to hospice patients regardless of their providing agency. It is not a residential facility. The purpose of the facility is to provide intensive care to hospice patients experiencing pain or symptoms. When symptoms cannot be controllable in the home setting and patients don’t want to return to the hospital, Vidant’s Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice House is an alternative.

The Inpatient Hospice House provides that high level care in a home-like setting. The staff also provides respite care for hospice patients that are stable. The word respite means a short period of rest or relief from something difficult. The respite benefit is designed to give the patient’s caregiver a three- to five-day rest period. Both the General Inpatient and Respite care are part of the Medicare approved benefits.

Vidant Home Health and Hospice, along with the staff and multitude of volunteers, will celebrate the debut of the inpatient hospice house healing garden in March. What a magnificent creation! Countless hours of thoughtful designing has produced this beautiful place. Here is where people of all ages can come to celebrate and cherish the wonder of life! It is a short 30-minute drive from Washingotn and well worth the time.

Vidant welcomes patients, families and visitors to take a moment and visit the various healing gardens located on many of their campuses.

Sarah Taylor is manager of marketing at Vidant Home Health and Hospice and can be reached by calling 252-227-1097.