Can Hospice Patients Benefit From Being In The Outdoors?
Outdoor Therapy Improves Quality of Life
Our hospice care program is thoughtfully designed to give our patients space to enjoy the time they have left in this world. Everything from pain management to spending time with loved ones helps improve the quality of life of our patients. A majority of hospice patients are physically weak and struggle with mobility, especially the more senior patients. Leaving the room where they receive most of their hospice care gives them a break from the mundane and creates separation from their medical needs and the other parts of their life. While walks at a gentle pace are beneficial, some patients may simply enjoy outdoor spaces by resting and breathing the fresh air. Nature exposure has endless benefits, including general mood improvement, lowering stress, and higher day-to-day satisfaction. Time outdoors helps those in hospice care have a break from the difficulties they’re facing. By spending time outdoors, patients can have a new sense of identity and share the experience with loved ones.
Bird Watching, Gardening, and Other Outdoor Activities for Hospice Patients
Gardening is an incredible activity for patients in hospice care. Gardening has been shown to reduce stress, calm general anxiety, help regulate body systems, and improve mental health overall. Gardening among seniors is extremely beneficial. Not only does it provide the physical benefits of maintaining strength, but it also provides exercise for the patients. Outdoor activities don’t have to be physically demanding. Patients who depend on a wheelchair or have other mobility limitations can enjoy bird watching, watching the sun sink below the horizon, or the simple experience of the quiet outdoors. Those in hospice care may simply enjoy being with others while they garden, or sit in nature to have conversation and create new memories. Many patients report that being in nature is enjoyable whether they’re resting or being more active. While some days a patient may be up for more taxing activities like a slow walk, they may not have the strength other days. Just because someone is physically weak doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from some restful outdoor time.
Gardening Therapy for Hospice Care Patients
Garden therapy, or horticulture therapy, provides a relaxing, stimulating, and rejuvenating activity for hospice care patients. Whether the patient is religious or spiritual, many people feel connected to nature. Nature allows us to feel at peace with the ever-changing world around us, and represents the beginning and end of life. Being in a garden, walking through a wooded area, or spending time in the sun near a body of water are all grounding experiences. Gardening provides patients with quiet moments to engage with their feelings or speak with loved ones without feeling pressured to entertain them. Patients often feel aimless during hospice care. They’re visited by loved ones and caretakers, but there are often in-between moments that leave a void in their day. With garden therapy, patients can be engaged in a fun and enriching activity shared with family, friends, or loved ones.
Distracting Patients from Pain and Negative Emotions
Hospice care can be a bleak period of time, causing emotional distress and giving patients too much free time to focus on negative emotions. Outdoor-based activities not only provide positive benefits to a patient’s health, but also act as a great distraction from pain and negativity. Being outdoors won’t prevent illness, but it can mitigate some of the symptoms, especially the mental and psychological ones. Being outdoors, being in the sun, and spending time in a different environment is a natural mood booster and can revitalize patients. The environment around us has a huge impact on our mood, which in turn impacts our health. Hospice care is designed to improve the quality of life of the patients, and we believe in a comprehensive approach, from pain medication to relaxing in the outdoors. To learn more about hospice care and the ways in which our staff cares for our patients, read more on our website or reach out to Star City Hospice to speak with someone.
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Gardening and The Outdoors
Regulating your nervous system provides a wide array of health benefits, from blood pressure to general mood. Being in nature helps regulate patients, especially when they’re experiencing pain or dread. Even a short period of time outdoors will improve their quality of life and provide additional peace in their day-to-day lives. Movement is also extremely important for patients during hospice care. Often we see hospice patients becoming sedentary, spending a majority, if not all, of their free time in a resting state. Even light outdoor activities, like a slow, gentle walk, provide significant physical health benefits. Something as simple as a short ten-minute walk can improve how someone feels, their blood circulation, and help them to sleep better. Even patients who use a wheelchair will benefit from being in nature, basking in the sun, and feeling the breeze.
Healthy Outdoor Engagement with Loved Ones
Certain environments and experiences create natural bonding opportunities. Being away from TVs, screens, and other distractions and trading them for quality relaxation time helps shift our mindsets. Nature encourages us to speak naturally, opening up to those around us. The outdoors provides opportunities to tell stories, reminisce on the past, and talk honestly about what we’re going through at the time. By creating a ritual that incorporates real quality time with loved ones, new levels of connection and bonds occur. Emotional connection is so important to hospice patients who are navigating the idea of leaving behind those they love. We believe that simple, frequent outdoor engagement is a vital part of healthcare and provides numerous benefits to hospice care patients.
Full-Service Hospice Care in North Texas
Star City Hospice works closely with our community, including hospitals, doctors, care facilities, and more. We see hospice care as not just end-of-life care, but another chapter of life to be celebrated. We take a comprehensive approach to hospice care, focusing on improving the quality of life for our patients. When you’re receiving care from Star City Hospice, you will have access to resources and services to create the most positive experience. If your loved one is entering hospice, get started today with Star City Hospice. Contact us for more information.