The Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust has made a £10,000 grant in support of the Charity funded Dementia-Friendly Garden being created for Older People’s Medicine (OPM).
The donation is contributing towards the dementia-friendly garden appeal, which looks to raise a total of £100,000 to fund the project.
Sharon Wrath, Loddon ward Matron, said: “The garden will include raised flower beds and walkways to create a safe area where patients can walk outside and sit with their relatives and carers to enjoy light exercise in the fresh air in a peaceful and relaxing environment inside the hospital grounds.”
Groundworks will be carried out along with doors being widened to enable patients in wheelchairs and hospital beds to enjoy the garden.
Sharon added: “The funds are being spent on the Dementia-Friendly Garden, which will be situated in the courtyard between Elsing and Dunston Wards. This will provide an accessible outdoor space for OPM inpatients, incorporating dementia-friendly design principles to support their mental health and wellbeing. The garden will help relieve patients’ agitation and anxiety, provide opportunities for exercise and for quiet reflection, and will allow family, friends and pets to visit patients staying on these wards.”
Julie Cooper, Head of Charity: “We are so grateful for this grant from the Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust, which will support the creation of a Dementia-Friendly Garden at NNUH. The garden will provide an accessible outdoor space for inpatients who are currently without such an amenity, creating opportunities to exercise, relax or spend time with visitors away from the ward. The Hospitals Charity is here to provide these additional facilities, which fall beyond the remit of the NHS, to enhance patient experience and wellbeing. The generosity of our supporters makes this possible.”
