Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

Nursing home residents at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System attend chapel service held recently in the newly-redesigned patio attached to the Murfreesboro campus building. (Courtesy photo)

During the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, employees at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System wanted to find ways to keep nursing home Veterans physically and mentally active.

The outcome was to extend a fenced-in patio to allow residents to spend time outdoors without leaving the community living center premises.
​
“The goal to extend the CLC patio area for more room for recreation therapy activities like gardening, adaptive sports, cookouts, special events parties, bird and airplane watching, listen to music, and attend outdoor chapel service,” said Gary Schneider, a recreation therapy assistant.

With the help of the TVHS engineering department, the patio opened in May 2021. The project planning and construction lasted roughly 12 months.

Karen Snell, a recreation therapist, explained how activities like gardening improves resident’s mental wellness.

“[Gardening] is good for their mental health because it gives them a sense of responsibility, keeps them connected to nature, relaxes them, and provides a healthy outlet for negative feelings,” Snell said. “Outdoor activities that involve social interaction helps improve their social skills, feel a sense of well-being, and improves their functional levels.”

The garden consists of native Tennessee flowers and vegetables selected by nursing home residents. They have requested to plant lettuce, zucchini, carrots, onions, bush beans, and radishes.

Staff members, volunteers, and several public and private organizations contributed to the project including Boy Scout Troop 374 member Tyler Knight, who led an eagle scout project in the patio. Other contributions came from a local high school, an American Red Cross chapter, an Elks Lodge, a Knights of Columbus assembly, and a Columbia Civitan club.

Among the items donated were flowerpots, gardening tools, vegetable and flower seeds, stubs, bird feeders, a wishing well, garden trellises, potting soil, bird houses, ballcaps, sunscreen, sunglasses, a flagpole, and a mailbox. The mailbox has been a very positive activity for residents.

“When a resident gets mail from family or friends, we put the mail out in the box. We go tell the resident they have mail and let them walk or roll out to the patio mailbox to get it,” Snell said.

She said residents will sit out in patio and read their mail or a newspaper.

Future plans include tailgate parties during football season, carnival games, an Octoberfest, a pumpkin decorating contest, pet therapy visits, balloon volleyball, and some cookouts.