Interviews
Lars
- Streetworker, Sint-Truiden
What do you think a therapeutic garden is?
'I think a therapeutic garden can be a next level garden that can adapt to the mental state a patient is in at the time. I can imagine patients wanting a day of rest or just chaos. So I think it's a place that can adapt to the person or situation. A place where you can sit alone anyway but also sit in group, where you can shut yourself off but also where you can be socially, there are different possibilities.
What would a garden in Asster look like based on your findings of the patients?
'I think there is a need for a place to smoke anyway. Many patients smoke.
I think a therapeutic dog might also be an idea; I think people have a need for a lovable animal that they can relate to. It has also been proven that a dog can have a therapeutic effect.
Nature elements also seem like an important point to me. A pond for rest.
Seating elements to be alone and with others.
Maybe facing each other, 2 gardens, the tranquility itself but also the chaos, adapting to the needs of the patients themselves. They can decide where to go at that moment.
The chaotic side: if they don't feel themselves well, not having to pay attention to anything, if necessary a place where there is no scrutiny of whether something is good or bad, whether something is allowed or not.
Not being obliged to do it according to others in their way.'
What do people from Asster need, based on your findings of patients?
'Being alone, not too much control, letting themselves be themselves, predictability, I notice they need structure. This can mean a lot to them and make things more pleasant.
Need for visits but letting them choose exactly what they want. Not pushing or imposing, patients need to be able to do their thing. I notice that sometimes patients feel that wrong priorities are set in Asster. For example, being very strict about getting up at a certain hour but being fairly lax about getting therapy.
I always try to see in the moment what the patient feels like doing. If something has been agreed on beforehand and I see him/her and it doesn't work out, I just leave them alone and it's for another time. The sense of independence has to be there'
Focus group
L.S. - pvt coördinator
J.H. - Luwte 3 department head
A.B. - occupational therapist → takes care of activities at Luwte 1, 2 and 3
Resident 1 - Luwte 3
Resident 2 - Luwte 2
Focus group facilitators:
Anne Steegen - student
Aura Vanbuel - student
We got a lot of information from the guiders and quite little from the residents themselves.
WRITTEN OUT RECORDING:
What is your ideal garden?
Res. 2 & A: Little work on it, low maintenance, in containers.
A: nice if residents are more involved in having a little garden , things at height (many people with back problems and not so mobile) Something to plant, herbs or vegetables or raspberries, a kind of candy corner
A & Res. 2: Walking in the garden, sitting, setting bench,
Res. 1: Ornamental garden and the same as Anneleen garden for vegetables,.
L: Also working a lot with tomatoes in the garden
J: when the weather is better, in summer a lot in the garden growing vegetables, it happened to be in the ornamental garden because some plants had died, but it was not the intention to combine growing tomatoes with it
L: the two may be there, but separately → so both ornamental garden and vegetable garden
A: a lot of time in the vegetable garden and a lot of dirt in between → low maintenance!
→ example: in containers, want to put pumpkins because after you prune it all gone, can also do crafts or make soup with it. no roots → dirt in between you pick it and eat it.
-J: zucchini too
Do you like to come outside here? or do you like to come outside? and rain?
Res. 2: yes, I like a garden, I sit outside a lot and miss flowers, more flowers in the garden!
A&J: there is a bench but in the summer only 2 times sat, sit a lot in front on the smokers side and less in the garden from the back or there must be a game played
J: only paved terrace, not really a garden anymore
Res. 1: used to be green around the terrace, now much paved and few trees
A: talk shop with big groups in summer and everywhere too hot to sit, no place for garden party, no shade anywhere.
What do you think of the atmosphere in the garden?
J: a very cozy smoker's terrace, always lots of people → Edgard confirmed → they don't specifically say anything about the garden here and they like the smoker's terrace because there are always lots of people sitting there. But this part is going away and house 3 is coming in the new building so is not going to have any influence in the future.
A: at the front of the houses sometimes someone sits in a deck chair → here was not a direct answer for the garden because it is not cozy. So then they gave the example that they find the smoking terrace the most cozy place now and we can deduce that there should definitely be a change to the garden because there is nothing there.
L: no atmosphere → is about the garden, there is nothing to do. It's just an empty garden without benches, etc.
J: with some color, scents in the garden come back create an atmosphere.
What activities would you like to do in the garden that you can't do today?
What do you think you need extra for this?
J: petanque court was requested on the ward, residents/ supervision during break, now they are behind the labor hall and is 10 minutes walk, especially if they are not good to walk that is not feasible → also viking kub
A: basketballs, either you make a garden or you make a sports field, but with the men who play sports we can go up to the sports field so that demand is not very big more cozy and picnic benches around trees, it's not so accessible right now, needs a flat surface.
L: artwork on the part of the garden, should be considered, in stained glass with colored glass for some color in the garden, dear: flower bed provided around the artwork by the artist, also important, same color pattern as artwork
J: a path to the artwork, I also already have a lot of furniture from house 3 now that will go with me to the new garden (benches, tables and chairs)
A: like a lot of benches, gazebo with hexagon and benches easily some people. movable or not?
J: therapy wise we can do something with it → they would like people to sit towards each other and benches or seating elements outside can be shifted if necessary.
Option of giving therapy outside or is that something you don't do?
A: a lot, people are always sitting in their living room and it is nice to do something different for a change, different topics of conversation and different people you meet. Getting outside as much as possible when the weather is good.
Do any of you frequent the garden with family?
Res. 2: no
J: I think there is not enough family coming, but maybe also because it is not always nice to sit there, most people sit at the smokers' terrace when family members come, but they don't sit there.
A: a meeting place would be great.
J: everyone is welcome there
J: one terrace sacrificed for smokers → there is not enough paving at the moment and should be wheelchair accessible. But this terrace will have no impact in the future since this building will no longer be used. They also want to get rid of smoking so this should not be taken into account when designing.
L: in the new building there is nothing covered for smokers, but smoking should also be phased out; in the building where we are sitting there is a smoking shelter ma that is very small and little open
A: vision of Asster is that the smoking shack should no longer be cozy, → so should not be encouraged in the design! → hanging lights and creating coziness by decoration, plants etc. is something they do like about the current smoker's shack in dwelling 3.L: shade garden, somewhere to sit in the shade
Do you like to be alone in a garden or do you prefer to be with others?
Res. 2: in the summer with others, playing games, but in the summer alone also when the weather is nice. People can come and sit with you
J: both is important, for when family comes and they have their own place but also a place to do something in a group.
Do you need something specific for that?
A: idea to have people look at each other and not with their backs to each other, and chairs can be added and more people can do something outside.
also did a poetry walk and could read something outside in the shade; multifunctional, many spots provided
How important is the relationship between inside and outside for you?
J: the new building of which 1 house will have a good view of the garden. from a corridor you will already be able to see the artwork
→ already taken into account the relationship between inside and outside
What would you think if animals were present outside?
J: I am pro
L&A: yes!
Res. 2: don't need it and already worked with the animals in the present garden
Res.1: not really needed
A: disadvantage is daily care of animals, practically very difficult, putting responsibility with the residents is not realistic
we once took rabbits out of their hut and put them in an outside run and in the evening outside again
J: we once had a small cat in the department, but the supervisors and residents disagreed about it.
E: I would like that, a dog or a cat
L: used to be a student at the horticultural school and then the residents would sit in the corridor with a chicken on their laps
A: gathering place for walk is in front of the front garden, (see pictures garden)
you hardly see the animals and that is a pity, the HEFT takes care of that
Some residents would go to pet the animals themselves
there is a laminated pony, so can't go for walks with it anymore
scientific evidence that heart rate and blood pressure slow down, lots of medical parameters get better because of that → so am in favor of it
Which place do you like best in the garden or appeals to you the most?
A: flower meadows near the personnel department where the sheep stand
J: wherever there are flower meadows in Asster
L: if they start to get wild and wilted then it's not so nice
A: go camping with tents, at the tellure big grass field
Are there any other things you would like to tell us and we should definitely know?
L: Shadow garden, Lots of greenery, fruit trees, vegetable garden, Water fountain, sound is soothing → e.g. a stone, Labyrinth, Flower garden with butterfly bush, with scents, lavender, Kitchen garden Insect hotel, Benches to sit, Feeders for birds
A: Barefoot path possibly (the idea), not the whole garden around but a part
Maybe design something taking into account budget and that it can be done diy moderately by themselves, we can hire many services ourselves.
List of what residents used to want in garden (from Lieve)
- Shade garden
- Lots of greenery, fruit trees, vegetable garden
- Water fountain, sound is soothing → e.g. a stone
- Labyrinth
- Flower garden with butterfly bush, with scents, lavender
- Vegetable garden
- Insect hotel
- Benches to sit on
- Feeders for birds
- Barefoot path possibly, not all around the garden but part of it
Walk
After the walk we had a talk with the maintainer of the gardens of Asster. He mentioned that we can go all-in on the design of the garden. But that small details must be taken into account such as: no poisonous plants, accessibility, fire safety and space provided for the lawnmower (2 meters).