At Rancho, a garden works miracles on patients

Volunteer Janet Ensley tends to the Restorative Garden. (Courtesy photo)

DOWNEY – Rancho’s Restorative Garden, funded by the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation, is the Occupational Therapy (OT) department’s secret weapon when it comes to recovery and therapy at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

Here both inpatients and outpatients are shown the joy of slowing down and gardening in an environment that feels much like a private oasis in an otherwise loud and fast world.

Much of the garden’s success can be attributed to former Rancho pediatric nurse and now volunteer, Janet Ensley. Throughout the week, Janet tends to the garden daily…planting, watering, pruning, and maintaining.

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced community-wide closures and hospital volunteers were furloughed for their safety, Janet successfully petitioned to be able to continue her work and keep the garden open and flourishing.

She knew that inpatients would no longer be getting visitors due to social distancing and that it would become even more important for them to be able to spend some time outdoors.

Knowing that the OT’s could continue their therapy sessions in the garden where they would engage their patients in the nurturing, harvesting, and even cooking of the food, made Janet so incredibly happy. “The garden is a wonderful approach to experiencing rehabilitation in a way that most other hospitals cannot offer,” said Janet.

Rancho’s Restorative Garden, which is run by Occupational Therapy but made available for use by other departments such as physical therapy and recreational therapy, provides the perfect location for meeting a variety of patient needs.

From Tai Chi amongst the flowers for flexibility training, to building and decorating wind-chimes for dexterity, the garden’s peaceful space accommodates an assortment of activities. On any given day, the garden might be used to help a patient learn to walk again, to navigate their wheelchair on an uneven surface, or to help someone with PTSD come to terms with their injury as they start tending to their own section of the garden.

Occupational Therapist Monica Becerril believes, “being in nature is very healing, as patients get to utilize all of their senses whether they are seeing the beautiful flowers, plants, and vegetables, smelling the bountiful lavender, or tasting the spearmint for relaxation. We even show them ways to create a garden (or a miniature herbal tea patch) at home even if their space is limited.”

Family members of patients have shared that the Restorative Garden has helped their loved ones who may be experiencing depression, start to open up, smile, and laugh again.

Monica commented, “As therapists, we try to help and guide our patients to find ways they can engage in meaningful interaction in an adaptive or modified way, so they can live their life to the fullest.”

The Restorative Garden’s popularity and success, much like what has been planted, is sure to only grow as Rancho and our surrounding community begins the journey of pandemic recovery.

For more information about the programs and services funded by the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation or to make a donation, please call (562) 385-7053 or visit www.RanchoFoundation.org