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- Title
Therapeutic Garden Design and Veterans Affairs: Preparing for Future Needs.
- Authors
Kirk, P. Annie; Karpf, Alee; Carman, Jack
- Abstract
Veterans comprise a large segment of the U.S. population - 26 million people. Based on current active combat statistics, a sharp spike in need for healthcare services is likely to result in a great number of veterans requiring shortor long-term stays within Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. During the last several years the VA has put its healthcare facilities under 21 networks, which provide more medical services to more veterans and family members than at any time during the VA's long history (Department of Veterans Affairs, May 2006). Gardens and green spaces have the potential to fill a critical role in healing, especially in longterm rehabilitation. Collaborative efforts in VA facilities between landscape architects and horticultural and other rehabilitation therapists offer opportunities to create, program, and use outdoor environments for restorative and healing outcomes. Use of therapeutic landscapes, whether passively and/or actively, benefits patients, staff, family members, and caregivers. This paper will review the VA healthcare system, current demands on service delivery, and two existing VA therapeutic garden settings and their associated programs that offer alternative treatment methods to veterans.
- Subjects
BOTANICAL garden design &; construction; LANDSCAPE gardening; GARDEN therapy; ASSOCIATIONS, institutions, etc.; GARDEN design; AWARDS
- Publication
Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 2010, Vol 20, p66
- ISSN
1088-3487
- Publication type
Article