Healing garden gets makeover | va detroit health care | veterans affairs

Days before Memorial Day, a tireless team of volunteers spent their day beautifying VA Detroit’s Rooftop Healing Garden for Veteran residents of the Community Living Center to enjoy. With

the sun shining and the skies a bright blue, volunteers from the Stellantis Veterans Group stepped onto the fifth-floor roof to give back and serve once again. The nonprofit Soldier’s Angels

connected the Stellantis group with VA Detroit and Soldier’s Angels also sponsored the purchase of the flowers, plants and soil used to regrow the garden. More than 100 VA Community Living

Centers (CLCs) operate across the U.S., the mission of each to restore Veterans to their highest level of well-being, to prevent declines in health, and provide comfort at the end of life.

VA Detroit can support 60 Veterans receiving services such as long-term care, physical rehab and hospice. Acting as skilled nursing homes, CLCs are family friendly ‘homes’ for Veterans, who

can decorate their rooms, have visiting pets and more while receiving skilled nursing and medical care.  As part of the whole health approach, VA Detroit incorporates complementary and

integrative health services alongside conventional care. Therapeutic Rooftop Gardens are a component of this holistic approach to care.  According to the National Institute of Health,

rooftop gardens can improve well-being when integrated into hospital programs and health policy. At VA Detroit, CLC Veterans can engage in outdoor gardening and horticulture activities

through Recreation Therapy following a comprehensive assessment. Veterans who express interest in the outdoors or gardening may find it built into their individual treatment plans. “This

garden provides a beautiful environment to promote cognitive, social, physical, and emotional well-being,” said Kelly Cousino, CLC lead recreation therapist. “These volunteers worked hard to

get the garden ready,” Cousino added. “They then assisted CLC Veterans get their hands dirty by planting flowers, herbs and vegetables around the garden.” The rooftop garden needed a spring

cleanup and volunteers removed old soil and flowers, tidied up the area and put new patio furniture together. The relaxing and homelike environment for Veterans offers a safe and secure

location outside while promoting participation in therapeutic activities.