Resources « Therapeutic Landscapes Network

Access to Nature DVDs – Spring Sale!

April 1, 2016 | by Naomi Sachs

If you have not seen the terrific award-winning DVD series “Access to Nature for Older Adults,” this is your chance. To coincide with the Environments for Aging conference, this DVD series is being offered during the month of April at a significant discount (50% off!) for TLN members. We’ll be sending out an email on Tuesday, 4/5 to our members with a keycode to buy the discounted DVDs.

To join the TLN, just sign up for our mailing list. It’s free and you’ll get occasional newsletters, as well as discounts like these. On the right-hand side of this blog page, see “Get TLN Blog posts emailed to you!” Enter your email and click “Subscribe.” That’s it! But do it soon, the email with the keycode goes out on Tuesday, April 5th.

About the Access to Nature for Older Adults DVDs
The series was developed by Susan Rodiek and colleagues at the Center for Health Systems & Design, Texas A&M University.

This fast-paced and lively set of three half-hour videos includes dramatic images, professional narration, and a rich variety of site photos, 3-D animations, diagrams, sketches, and interviews with senior residents and world-renowned experts on this multidisciplinary topic.

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Gift ideas from the TLN

December 18, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

Still looking for the perfect gift? The TLN Store has all sorts of items featuring our beautiful Echinacea mascot.

Or if books are more your thing, check out this post about inspirational healing garden books.

Others that we highly recommend include:

Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces, by Clare Cooper Marcus and Naomi Sachs

Designing Outdoor Spaces for People with Dementia,
by Annie Pollock and Mary Marshall

Therapeutic Landscapes: A History of English Hospital Gardens Since 1800,
by Clare Hickman

Gardening for Seniors, by Patty Cassidy

Happy Holidays!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday, 2/13/13

February 13, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

Possumhaw berries image from www.henrydomke.com

This image is from Henry Domke’s fabulous new website, henrydomke.com. Henry is not only an incredibly talented photographer, he also happens to be one of the nicest guys I know. For a healthy dose of nature imagery and to learn more about his installations in healthcare facilities, visit his website.

The Nature Principle – Guest book review by Lisa Horne

December 14, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

And while we are in book mode…

Lisa Horne’s review of Richard Louv‘s newest book, The Nature Principle was first posted on The Field, ASLA’s (American Society of Landscape Architects) Professional Practice Network blog. Which, if you haven’t checked it out, is worth a look, and even a bookmark. Lisa and ASLA were kind enough to allow the TLN to share the review here:

Seven years ago, Richard Louv coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” in his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. He is now giving us possibilities to move beyond it in The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder. While the first book looked at nature’s absence from children’s daily lives, the second recognizes that the need for nature extends to all of us. The Nature Principle, as articulated by Louv, provides that nature is crucial for humans to be healthy—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

A strong thread of hope and optimism runs through these pages. Louv notes that arguments for environmental change have run from a first generation warning of catastrophe to a second generation argument of economic benefits to a third generation assertion that the environment impacts our well-being (Louv 284). Another unique concept he identifies is the value of human energy. Designers often think in terms of energy efficiency, but the human spirit renewed and refreshed by nature brings energy into a system as well.

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TLN recommends: Healing garden book picks 2012

December 13, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

This is the fourth year for TLN Blog book recommendations (!). If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone special (including yourself), here are some recommendations for beautiful books with a healing garden theme that are sure to inspire you and your giftees. These are all books that I own and refer to again and again. There are more academic and educational books out there, which are listed on the TLN’s References page. When you buy from any of the Amazon links on this post, you’ll be supporting the Therapeutic Landscapes Network as well. Through the Amazon Associates program, the TLN receives a percentage of each book sale. This is true for Amazon purchase at any time of the year, so please bookmark the link and use it when you shop there. Of course, if you can find the books locally, all the better.

My new favorite book is Patty Cassidy’s The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for Seniors: How to maintain your outside space with ease into retirement and beyond. It is so richly illustrated and will be useful to all gardeners and aspiring gardeners. However, the emphasis is really on gardening for seniors and others who have difficulty with the more physical challenges of gardening. It’s a valuable and beautiful addition to the gardening book library.

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Earth Day 2012 – Sustainable and therapeutic landscapes

April 20, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Jupiter Medical Center Photo by Michiko Kurisu, courtesy of Studio Spout.

The retention pond at Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, FL also serves as large water feature, viewable from the Cancer Treatment Center. Photo by Michiko Kurisu, courtesy of Studio Spout.

Happy Earth Day!

Human health cannot be treated separately from the natural environment.
– Hippocrates, 4th Century BCE

We at the Therapeutic Landscapes Network believe that the best landscapes for health are those that benefit people and the planet. In the most recent issue of Research Design Connections, an article by Naomi Sachs titled “Landscapes for Health: Therapeutic AND Sustainable Landscapes in the Healthcare Setting,” is featured in the Expert’s Corner. If you subscribe to RDC, you can log in and read the full article on their website. This article will also become a chapter in a book on therapeutic landscapes by Naomi Sachs and Clare Cooper Marcus, to be published by Wiley in 2013.

Below are some excerpts from the article:

Complementary Approaches
Sustainable and therapeutic landscapes complement each other in myriad ways. Facilities have the opportunity to “feed two birds with one seed” by meshing the two design philosophies. Landscape architects are the architect’s and engineer’s best friend here, because they are trained to see the “big picture” as well as details that will best benefit the site and the people served. In many cases, one strategy comes first and the other follows. (more…)

Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC): Why it matters

April 17, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Rooftop garden, Dublin Methodist Hospital, Dublin, OH. Photo by Brad Feinknoph for Karlsberger

In yesterday’s blog post, I discussed my plans to pursue a PhD that would focus on access to nature and evidence-based design in the healthcare setting, and I promised to go into more depth about EBD today. For even more information and resources, please visit the TLN website’s page: www.healinglandscapes.org/resources/ebd.

A large and growing body of evidence attests to the fact that the physical environment impacts patient stress, patient and staff safety, staff effectiveness and quality of care provided in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Basing healthcare facility planning and design decisions on this evidence to achieve the best possible patient, staff and operational outcomes is what evidence-based design (EBD) is all about.
The Center for Health Design

In EBD, research generally refers to empirical research, the systematic investigation of the tangible facts aimed at gaining knowledge, making discoveries, testing and revising theories, and applying new knowledge…What differentiates EBD from the traditional design approach is the emphasis on using research to support design decision making and evaluation of design innovations.
An Introduction to Evidence-Based Design: Exploring Healthcare and Design (EDAC Study Guide 1), p. 72.

I recently took (and passed) the Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) exam, the culmination of the Center for Health Design’s program to educate and certify individuals in using an evidence-based approach for the design and construction of healthcare facilities. (more…)

Therapeutic Landscapes with The Patron Saint of Architecture

January 19, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

This week on the blog, “The Patron Saint of Architecture,” Angela Mazzi features therapeutic landscapes through an interview with me. She asked some excellent, thought-provoking questions that get to the heart of what therapeutic landscapes are, how they function, why they’re necessary, and what designers and healthcare providers can do to make sure that they get incorporated into their projects.

Angela is an architect who specializes in healthcare. Her blog explores all sorts of aspects of healthcare-related design, including (of course) design, as well as business strategies, communication techniques, and “thoughts on how to get and stay inspired as a designer.”

Here are a couple snippets, but I encourage you to read the full post on The Patron Saint of Architecture blog.

How Does your Garden Grow? The Role of Therapeutic Landscapes in Design, by Angela Mazzi

What does landscaping mean to you? Most likely, not nearly enough. Too easily, we view it as decorative, a “nice to have” part of a project. However, as we learn more about salutogenic design and the effects of the environment on wellness (everything from healing to better job performance), landscape starts to become a critical element, one which should form the basis of design. With this in mind, I asked Naomi Sachs, Founder and Director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network (TLN) to share some insights on the power of nature.

What is the difference between landscaping and a garden? Is it only about habitation?

In general, I would say that a “landscape” is any outdoor space, wild or designed, and a “garden” is a designed space. A restorative landscape is simply an outdoor space that makes you feel good when you’re in it. To me, “landscaping” implies decorative elements like a lawn, shrubs, some trees, and is not necessarily intended for interaction. A therapeutic (or healing) garden is a space designed for a specific population (children, cancer patients, people with Alzheimer’s) and a specific intended outcome (stress reduction, positive distraction, rehabilitation). This is not to say that landscaping isn’t important. Well-designed and maintained landscapes communicate to patients and their families that they will receive a high level of care, and this can happen from the moment you cross the property line. Even areas such as parking lots can utilize landscape to provide and reinforce the overall image and mission of the facility.

Maintenance is always a concern when it comes to landscaping- I’ve actually worked with healthcare clients who wanted nothing but grass in the areas they “had” to landscape for ease of maintenance. What kind of recommendations can you make to landscape skeptics about using plantings?

Access to nature just makes good business sense. Studies by Roger Ulrich, confirmed by others, have demonstrated less need for pain medication, improved patient satisfaction, faster recovery rates, and many other examples of improved outcomes for patients and staff. When you really look at the benefits of providing access to nature, the return on investment (ROI) justifies the initial cost and lifetime maintenance. Hospitals need to see landscaping as a strategic investment in the same manner they would the purchase of a new MRI.

Visit The Patron Saint of Architecture to read the full article. Thank you, Angela, for a great conversation and post!

Updated LATIS Publication on Therapeutic Garden Design

October 18, 2011 | by Naomi Sachs

Late-season bumble bee, Stonecrop Gardens, Cold Spring, NY. Photo by Naomi Sachs

From ASLA’s LAND e-news:

ASLA has released an updated version of a publication in the Landscape Architecture Technical Information Series (LATIS): the “LATIS Forum on Therapeutic Garden Design, 2nd Edition.” The paper highlights the benefits provided by therapeutic outdoor environments in a variety of settings and underscores their importance to people’s health and well-being at all stages of life.

The authors are Marni Barnes, ASLA; Jack Carman, FASLA; Nancy Carman; Nancy Chambers; Clare Cooper Marcus, Honorary ASLA; Nilda G. Cosco, Affiliate ASLA; Mark Epstein, ASLA; Sonja Johansson, FASLA; Jean Stephans Kavanagh, FASLA; Don Luymes; Patrick F. Mooney, ASLA; and Robin C. Moore, Affiliate ASLA.

In addition to updates provided by the authors, this LATIS has been evaluated for Professional Development Hours (PDH) under the guidelines of the LA CES (Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System) program. The update of this paper is part of an ongoing ASLA project to review content and reevaluate PDH of older LATIS publications. ASLA members and nonmembers can download LATIS papers at no charge from the ASLA website. Download is free for members [and the fee for non-members is $50] ; members and nonmembers pay a small fee to take an exam and receive PDH credit for each LATIS read.

Click on the ASLA LATIS page to download the publication.

As a teaser, here’s the Table of Contents:

PART ONE: Therapeutic Gardens in Healthcare Settings

A Thumbnail History of Therapeutic Gardens in Healthcare
The Role of Gardens in the Therapeutic Milieu of Healthcare Facilities
Gardens in Acute Care Settings: Principles and Practice
A Children’s PlayGarden at a Rehabilitation Hospital: A Successful Collaboration Produces a Successful Outcome

PART TWO: Environmental Sources of Wellbeing

Therapeutic Landscapes in the Public Realm: Foundations for Vancouver’s Wellness Walkways
Well-being by Nature: Therapeutic Gardens for Children
Therapeutic Gardens in Assisted Living Communities
The Power of Landscapes

“Outdoor Environments for Children with Autism & Special Needs” in InformeDesign’s ‘Implications’

April 27, 2011 | by Naomi Sachs

April Implications 2011 'Outdoor Environments for Children with Autism and Special Needs' by Naomi Sachs and Tara Vincenta Hot off the press! InformeDesign’s latest issue of Implications (Vol. 9, Issue 1) just went live today, and it features an article by Naomi Sachs and Tara Vincenta, “Outdoor Environments for Children with Autism and Special Needs.” I mentioned this article in my April 13th blog post about Autism Awareness and Landscape Architecture month, but it had not come out yet.

So take a look by linking to the pdf here: http://www.informedesign.org/_news/april_v09-p.pdf.

And here is the resource list on autism and related disorders and children and nature mentioned in the article , which will also soon be available for download from the TLN Get Out and Play! page:
PDF of resources on autism and nature-based learning and play for InformeDesign’s ‘Implications’ (Vol. 9, Issue 1)

Tara Vincenta developed the Sequential Outdoor Learning (SOL) Environment and many of the design guidelines in our article are based on SOL Environment principles.

Many thanks to InformeDesign for giving me and Tara this platform to share our work. InformeDesign is an evidence-based design tool that transforms research into an easy-to-read, easy-to-use format for architects, graphic designers, housing specialists, interior designers, landscape architects, and the public. They are, in my humble opinion, one of the best resources out there.

And if you know of people who would benefit from the information in this post, please pass it on!