Ātea Whakaora - The Burwood Hospital Therapy Garden
Burwood Hospital is a pretty special place, and we have an ambitious garden project that will transform our inner courtyard.
We specialise in older people’s health and have one of only two spinal units in New Zealand. This means our patients are often with us for some time. We are the first hospital in the country to be accredited as working towards being dementia-friendly. This is something we are very passionate about, as around half of our older patients are living with dementia or cognitive impairment.
Being in a hospital can be a frightening and confusing experience for everyone, but especially for people living with dementia.
One of the things that can make a big difference to the experience of being in hospital is to be able to engage with the outdoors and nature. Research has found it can help people to recover faster and reduces anxiety and pain! Over the last few years, our Dementia and Delirium Group at Burwood Hospital has been planning to redevelop a large, under-used courtyard area.
Our vision is to create a wheelchair-accessible and dementia-friendly therapeutic outdoor area to:
help people get outdoors, reduce stress, and lift their mood.
provide opportunities for movement, on their own or with a therapist, to help with rehabilitation.
provide a relaxed setting for patients and family or other visitors to interact.
We have a beautiful landscape concept plan that will guide the development of our garden. Central to the concept is a loop walking track that will link a series of spaces, each with their own identity and purpose.
These include:
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that engages the senses, with plants chosen for smell, texture, sound, and a safe water feature. Raised planters are a feature of this space allowing people to engage with the plants more easily.
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that’s a little bit ‘wild’. It will be an abundance of native plants, especially local plants, plants that that can be left to grow naturally without clipping, and plants that attract birds. Seating, garden sculptures and pou will punctuate this area, all referencing the ‘natural feel’.
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with opportunities to encourage games and various forms of physical activity, such as portable games, a basketball hoop, and exercise equipment.
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with familiar plant choices and decorative items such as seats and garden art (imagine flamingos!) that were popular in 50s and 60s home gardens.
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with wheel-chair friendly planters with easy care plants such as herbs and perennials, along with evocative visual cues such as a wheelbarrow and garden shed.
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This includes a paved terrace and an all-weather canopy that welcomes the sun in summer, but also will provide shelter from the rain. This space will be adorned with movable but stable seating and tables.
Our journey has begun, and we’d love a helping hand!
Your financial contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a considerable difference to the lives of many who will experience this beautiful garden.
To donate please click on the donate button (top right) and click on Burwood Sensory Garden in the drop down.
If you prefer to make a payment by direct credit, the Māia Health Foundation bank account is:
Westpac 03 1700 0303533 01
Please note your name and contact number in the “Reference” field so that we can contact you to arrange a donation receipt.
