Rockingham General Hospital’s new sensory garden opens

After years of planning by the dedicated Rockingham General Hospital Aged Care Rehabilitation Unit team, the new sensory garden has been officially opened by RkPG Executive Director Asheila Narang and local member Magenta Marshall MLA.

The unit is a specialist 30-bed ward caring for older adults living with functional decline due to complex conditions such as stroke, fractures or after surgery. Many of the patients also experience dementia. A key goal of the unit is to provide therapy programs that help patients be more independent.

The garden replaces an unloved space with a vibrant new facility that provides patients with a more home-like and inviting environment to complete their rehabilitation activities.

It provides the therapeutic effects of nature from sunlight, wind, flora and fauna. Patients immerse their senses by touching items with different textures, smelling the flowers, hearing and responding to sounds, visualising and recalling objects and undertaking gardening activities.

The initial fundraising for the project was undertaken in memory of Rockingham General Hospital Physiotherapist Lauren Prothero, who dreamed of making a rehabilitation garden a reality for her patients. Many of Lauren’s family and friends were present at the opening.

In opening the therapy garden, Asheila thanked all those involved in its creation and recognised the immense efforts from the hospital and wider community that went into bringing the garden to life.

“This has been years of planning with the unit’s multidisciplinary team, consumer input and support from the Consumer Advisory Council to make sure it’s accessible and right for patients and carers,” Asheila said.

“I also wish to acknowledge our Nurse Unit Manager Clair, who started her bid for a five senses garden on day one of working in this unit. The opening event was held on International Nurses Day and we applaud nurses like Clair who go the extra mile to drive innovation and change. We celebrate the Aged Care Rehabilitation Unit multidisciplinary team who took those ideas and brought them to life,” she said.

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