CHAPTER V

SUMMARY

As Marcus and Barnes stated in Healing Gardens, the term healing is quite
broad and generally refers to a beneficial process that promotes overall well-
being. Within the healthcare setting, however, there are three specific
aspects of the healing process that can be identified: stress reduction, relief
from physical symptoms or awareness of those symptoms, and improvement
in the overall sense of well-being. Stress often accompanies sickness and
hospitalization. Because autism is a disorder that lasts a lifetime, dealing
with stress is an on-going battle. Stress arises from the demands of the
social and physical environment and results in sensory overload. The term
“therapeutic”, however, suggests more than comfort, according to Gerlach-
Spriggs. It implies that the individual will be working toward a goal or
outcome. For example, there may be ramps, small curbs, or varied surfaces
designed into the environment for the patient (with the assistance of the
occupational therapist) to master with a wheelchair, or there may be a small
planting garden to improve fine motor skills. In designing a healing garden,
the landscape architect then has two goals in mind. The first goal is the
process of healing and the second goal is to design an outdoor environment
that will support this process.
According to Campbell that an environment is strongly influences the
behavior of individuals. A well designed physical environment can maintain
and enhance the ability to function and improve quality of life. Healing
gardens are found in a variety of healthcare settings. Not only are they found
in acute care general hospitals, but they are also found in psychiatric
hospitals, rehabilitation centers, Alzheimer treatment centers, hospitals and
settings for children, nursing homes, AIDS and cancer treatment centers, and
hospices for the dying. There are many different kinds of outdoor spaces in
these settings. These include landscaped grounds, entry gardens,
courtyards, plazas, roof gardens, roof terraces, healing gardens, meditation
gardens, viewing gardens, private gardens, nature trails and preserves, and
atriums.
A Literature review of Designing therapeutic environment by Steven,
therapeutic goals for design promotes both actually and perceptually secure
environment, and enhanced social interactions. A variety of intimate and
public rooms, transparency of common space partitions and orientation and
grouping of openings encourage residents to interact according to individual
needs. Homelike organization and detailing cue past experiences to assist in
making appropriate choices.

CONCLUSION

We therefore conclude that designs based on therapeutic goals and design

principles have a positive impact on quality of life. They enhance residents'
sense of well-being and reduce agitation, restlessness and confusion.
Residents eat better, laugh more and worry less. Living their life pattern, not
the institutional pattern, promotes competence and independence while
slowing functional and psychological decline. That is why designers are more
focused on considering the principles of green spaces in developing a
project.

RECOMMENDATION

The result of this research will therefore encourage the designers to

produce a well designed physical environment to improve the quality of life
in relation to the users. We recommend to all designers to enhance the
function of green space or landscape to form a healing area within the
building because therapeutic environment acts as a healing garden for the
patients who benefits the sense of comfort, stress free, and an effective way
to aid there illness. Therapeutic environment is highly recommended to
hospitals and nursing home for the aged as well as the autistic children.

References:

• Tyson, 1998; Gerlach-Spriggs et al, 1998; Marcus and Barnes, 1999;

Dannenmaier, LA, 1995
• Designing therapeutic environment by Steven, Paul (1996)