She and Dunn fill the bird feeder with food and sit and wait for birds to come by. Dunn said they watch the birds and talk about what they see. Even though the resident may call a cardinal a robin, that's okay, Dunn said. Dunn is not alone in her belief that gardens in long-term care facilities can significantly benefit residents. Though not much research has been done on the topic, experts say gardens can lure residents out of the confines of a nursing home or assisted living facility and reduce boredom by getting them to exercise, to socialize with others residents or to just be alone with their thoughts.
Hospitals are places, for the most part, that are there to get people in and get people out.
They're not long-term living arrangements. Experts say there are many benefits to having gardens as part of the design of long-term care facilities. If people feel somewhat confined and their privacy intruded upon in the building, the garden allows a sense of escape to a different kind of setting where they might find privacy or a soothing environment. Homelike quality . The gardens must look domestic in image and scale.