A garden which has been specially built to provide a safe, therapeutic space for patients, including those with dementia, is now open at Yeovil Hospital.
The garden has been built thanks to £49,020 of funding won in last year’s National Lottery’s People’s Millions competition. It has been specially designed to appeal to patients with dementia, with an accessible pathway and seasonal planters to help patients connect with the seasonal calendar and remind them of life outside hospital. It is fully enclosed, to ensure that patients, their families and carers have the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment.
The garden was officially opened in a ceremony yesterday (23 March) by Julia Jones, co-founder of John’s Campaign, a national campaign which lobbies for the rights of carers to stay with people with dementia while they are in hospital.
Helen Ryan, Director of Nursing at Yeovil Hospital, said of the garden’s opening: “We were delighted to welcome Julia to open our garden yesterday. We know that being outside can improve people’s sense of wellbeing and mood, as well as providing physical exercise and helping to maintain normal sleeping patterns. This garden provides people with a welcome respite from hospital life – a chance to connect with the outside world in a safe environment.
“The garden will also form a key part of the activities we plan with our recent People’s Projects win, to help improve life in hospital for older patients with art, music, craft and gardening. For many, being in hospital can be lonely, and activities such as gardening and art bring people together, encouraging them to talk to each other and socialise.”
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