Banner Casa Grande
HEALTH
The Serenity Garden by Tammy Gabel, Public Relations Specialist, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Fresh air is always good for people, and this part of Arizona is a special place because we have fresh air a lot of the time.
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hile other parts of the country are frozen over this time of year, it’s the best time to be outdoors in Casa Grande. For hospital patients, however, fresh air and sunshine can be difficult to access. At Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, a healing garden is positioned between the original hospital building and the North Tower addition to allow our patients who are well enough, as well as their loved ones, a place to take a break. The Serenity Garden is supported by the Casa Grande Community Hospital Foundation and was originally installed in 2004 to provide a break from the medical environment. “It’s there to give our patients and families a chance to relax and have some downtime in a peaceful and tranquil environment,” said Banner Casa Grande CEO Rona Curphy. “It gives people a chance for a pause.” The focal point of the Serenity Garden is a large, soothing fountain. Gentle landscaping allows guests to take pleasure in the garden by wandering through the Pathway to the Future – a brick walkway that winds through the garden, where loved ones have been honored or memorialized through personal brick donations. The healing garden features two gazebos, which provide shaded space for patients and their family members to sit together. There are also benches, flowers and trees throughout. Planters are changed out several times during
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the year so the garden is always colorful and in-season. A large, soothing fountain helps create a relaxing environment with the sound of flowing water. “The water and the plants offer a sense of calm,” Curphy said. “Fresh air is always good for people, and this part of Arizona is a special place because we have fresh air a lot of the time.” In fact, walking outside and getting some sunshine are known to help reduce stress. The healing garden is also a nice place for staff to take a break
and relax or visit with one another outside of the work environment. “Working in health care can be stressful. Having a loved one in the hospital can be stressful,” Curphy said. “This is an environment where, at times, difficult decisions need to be made. The healing garden offers a place for anyone to take some time and reflect, think, relax.” For more information about the Serenity Garden, or to make a donation, contact the Casa Grande Community Hospital Foundation at (520) 381-6541.
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