Therapeutic Hospital Gardens: Literature Review and Working Definition.

AIM: This review explores the role of purposefully designed and well-integrated therapeutic hospital gardens (THGs) for the benefits of patients, their families, and staff. BACKGROUND: Significant benefits are realized when people are in contact with nature in the city. Although hospital gardens are prevalent and the beneficial effects of nature on health are widely acknowledged, the establishment of a consistent definition for hospital gardens that promote health is vital to attain reliable and quantifiable health outcomes. METHODS: Twenty-eight peer-reviewed journals were critiqued for the period of 2016-2021 and updated with 12 articles from 2021 to 2023 to analyze and synthesize the latest thinking and development in this emergent field. Subsequently, current books and exemplar practice literature were synthesized with the results of the literature review to produce a working definition of THGs. RESULTS: Three themes and 14 subthemes were established showing the interconnectedness of THG definition, user needs and experiences, and the benefits and values of THGs. Two original findings can be established-a need to have a consensus on terminology and to establish design processes. The working definition was produced as a foundational step to guide stakeholders in implementing THGs. CONCLUSION: THGs can play a role in improving well-being when they are purposefully designed and well-integrated in hospital programs and health policy. Hospital CEOs, designers, and healthcare experts can use the findings and working definition to assist the establishment of such health promoting gardens.

Understanding the Well-Being of Older Chinese Immigrants in Relation to Green Spaces: A Gold Coast Study (Australia).

In recognition of the aging population and the importance of health-supporting urban environments, including urban green spaces, to maintain well-being, scholars and policymakers have increasingly investigated the associations between urban green spaces and the well-being of older people. However, few studies specifically investigate minority older groups such as those with diverse cultural backgrounds, and many studies often ignore the design attributes of green spaces which may contribute to the well-being of those in such groups. In order to address these gaps, this paper explores how green spaces influence the well-being of older Chinese immigrants. This case study analyzes how older Chinese immigrants interact with green spaces on the Gold Coast, Australia, and adopts the value of place as a conceptual framework to understand the relationship. Two qualitative methods, namely, in-depth interviews and travel diaries, were used to collect data. The results show that parks, as a place, play a crucial role in older Chinese immigrants' ability to undertake outdoor activities. The relationship between green spaces and well-being can be classified into two themes. The first theme is concerned with how older Chinese immigrants perceive and experience green spaces. This finding indicates that green spaces can fulfill their values of keeping healthy, maintaining active lifestyles, and being social, all of which benefit well-being. The second theme relates to daily activities undertaken within green spaces. Issues of accessibility and personal preferences regarding activities complicate the relationship between green spaces and well-being. Good accessibility to green spaces is congruent with older Chinese immigrants' values of being physically active, while difficulties in conducting preferred activities counteract these values which then generate negative perceptions of green spaces. Overall, there is great potential for understanding how personal values can inform the design of inclusive green spaces for minority or less mobile groups.