Patient experience:
“I love it – takes you to a different world”
“The one bright light in a dreary stay is the fortnightly naturalist lectures. The enjoyment begins with the anticipation of the visit. The talks are educational, interesting and fun. They are better than any medicines administered by the nurses”
“If you could see the look on the faces of elderly patients with onset dementia when they see the photo’s of animals, or hold an owl feather, or a birds nest. Memories flood back and they ask pertinent questions or relate stories from the past about animals they have known. For an hour THEY are important people with full engagement in the talk, they come alive again”.
"In between visits I read up on the coming talk, I cannot imagine life in this hospital without this essential outlet for boredom” This patient, put together a session on a topic that interested him and helped facilitate the discussion on his chosen subject".
Another patient who had been in hospital for two months confessed to feeling institutionalised; “I feel like I’ve lost my confidence but being able to tell you about my farm and identify some of the herbs has made me feel better – a bit more confident now” .
Endorsement from a hospital staff
“My name is Elizabeth and I am a dementia support worker in (N. Wales), Community Hospital.
I am writing to you in regards to Isa from the Kings Garden. This lady has made such a huge change to my week it is remarkable. It gives me fresh new innovative ideas to come up with different activities. It calms patients and makes them forget they are in hospital. A couple of patients even said “It was like attending my local community centre with my friends, such fun!” We have been fortunate enough to have Isa deliver some taster sessions, her knowledge is remarkable!
I personally could not deliver a session in such a unique way and with such passion. If a patient hears a bird in the garden Isa will identify the call immediately. Alongside her marvellous presentations come props such as fossils, woolly mammoth hair, birds’ nests, wasp nests and magnifying glasses to enable the patients, even the poor-sighted, to really see what’s going on. So, you can see nature in its glory, seeing things the naked eye wouldn’t ordinarily see -it’s really extraordinary.
The patients and I are always really keen to see what will be produced from the Mary Poppins rucksack next! Our patients are so enthusiastic to attend that some have to be told they can’t attend due to popularity. Not only does Isa come with an enthusiastic way of delivery to her sessions, she also has an incredible amount of passion. A topic is picked in advance either by Isa or she will offer me a choice depending on the type of patients I have and their capabilities, again being person-centred.
I have never come across an organisation as special as the King’s Garden. It delivers a person-centred, individual hour of escapism for a patient who ordinarily would be sat bored by their bedside. Patients leave uplifted and eager to tell their fellow patients in the ward what they have learnt. Having a friendly face who is an outsider to the hospital also makes a huge difference.
Being in hospital means that elderly patients have limited access to the outdoors, a lot of these patients adore their gardens and embrace being outside. Having Isa coming in to discuss various topics brings the outside inside for some patients. Or it will make an individual fall in love with the great outdoors again. It’s really quite hard to describe their faces and how much these sessions are well loved. We all look forward to our sessions with Isa and keenly await her friendly smiley face”.
As Ward Manager, these talks change the atmosphere on the ward. The conversation continues well after the session and (the ladies) are getting to know each other better.