Goal
The goal of all healing environments is to engage patients in the conscious process of self-healing and spiritual growth. Spaces are designed to be nurturing and therapeutic and, most important, to reduce stress. This is a research-based approach to design (also known as Evidence-based design), aimed at eliminating environmental stressors and putting patients in contact with nature in the treatment setting.
According to "The Business Case for Creating a Healing Environment" (Malkin, 2003) written by healthcare design expert Jain Malkin and published by The Center for Health Design, the physical setting has the potential to be therapeutic if it achieves the following:
- eliminates environmental stressors such as noise, glare, lack of privacy and poor air quality;
- connects patients to nature with views to the outdoors, interior gardens, aquariums, water elements, etc.;
- offers options and choices to enhance feelings of being in control - these may include privacy versus socialization, lighting levels, type of music, seating options, quiet versus 'active' waiting areas;
- provides opportunities for social support - seating arrangements that provide privacy for family groupings, accommodation for family members or friends in treatment setting; sleep-over accommodation in patient rooms;
- provides positive distractions such as interactive art, fireplaces, aquariums, Internet connection, music, access to special video programmes with soothing images of nature accompanied by music developed specifically for the healthcare setting; and
- engenders feelings of peace, hope, reflection and spiritual connection and provides opportunities for relaxation, education, humour and whimsy.
Read more about this topic: Healing Environments
Famous quotes containing the word goal:
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—Ursula K. Le Guin (b. 1929)
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—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)