LiveWall Supports Therapeutic Goals in Therapy Garden at Mary Free Bed
Alicia Hass is a Recreation Therapist at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. She plays a vital role in helping patients use recreation, leisure, and community engagement as tools for healing, growth, and education. The therapy garden project was a collaborative effort. The therapy team, facilities staff, and leadership at Mary Free Bed all recognized the importance of creating a restorative outdoor environment for patients and families.
LiveWall® was selected for the therapy garden for its creative and visually appealing design. It helped transform an open and distracting space into a vibrant and healing feature. The goal was to provide privacy, soften the urban atmosphere, and create a calming microclimate within the garden. Before installation, the area was exposed to the parking lot and the noise of ambulance drop-offs. These conditions were both visually and audibly disruptive for patients and families. The two-sided wall allows planting on both sides. It now serves as a living privacy screen, softening the environment, reducing noise and distractions, and offering a more calming and restorative space. Its flexible design allows for annual replanting with colorful flowers, keeping the space dynamic and engaging throughout the seasons.
The LiveWall supports multiple therapeutic goals. It enhances the aesthetics of the therapy garden while providing functional benefits for patients:
- It creates a safe, intimate space for reflection and therapy.
- The colorful plants support visual stimulation and are used in therapy for patients with visual deficits, including scanning tasks and color identification.
- Seasonal changes in plantings offer opportunities for cognitive engagement and conversation, aiding memory and providing tactile experiences through interaction with leaves and flowers.
- The wall’s beauty helps reduce stress and anxiety, serving as a welcoming visual feature for new patients and enhancing the experience for those already utilizing the garden.
Alicia originated the idea of using LiveWall to enhance the Outdoor Therapy Garden. The concept was presented to her team. With their encouragement and donor support from Eastbrook Homes and the National Garden Bureau, the vision was brought to life.
More than just a garden feature, the LiveWall has become part of the therapeutic process. Patients and families frequently comment on the beauty of the flowers and often use the wall as a backdrop for photos to celebrate milestones in recovery.