New Therapeutic and Healing Garden will cut water use by 50 percent
Sacramento, CA – Eskaton Foundation broke ground on a wheelchair-accessible Therapeutic and Healing Garden for patients and residents at Eskaton Care Center Greenhaven on Thursday, June 4. Construction is expected to be completed in early August.
Sacramento City Councilmember Rick Jennings, II, Eskaton CEO Todd Murch, Eskaton Foundation President Kim Rhinehelder, staff residents participated in the groundbreaking.
Ron Walker, president of the Resident Council, was one of the participating residents. A retired firefighter, Ron suffered a serious injury and his leg was amputated. He is looking forward to getting around in the new garden once it is completed.
The garden will feature the first wheelchair-accessible labyrinth in the Greater Sacramento area and a rehabilitation ambulation path to help stroke victims and other patients learn to balance and walk again.
Nearly all residents use wheelchairs and some use walkers, and most residents are low income.
Residents are excited about spending more time outdoors, more gardening opportunities, having more space for family visits, and having a beautiful view. Rehabilitation, recreation and spiritual care services will be incorporated into the garden.
The garden is part of Eskaton Care Center Greenhaven Executive Director Heather Craig’s long-term vision to create a more home-like experience for residents.
“It’s pretty powerful to work for an organization that believes in the impact of philanthropy and community solidarity to benefit lives. This garden will serve seniors and their families for years to come,” said Eskaton Foundation President Kim Rhinehelder
The ongoing drought was an important consideration when developing plans for the garden. A great deal of grass has been removed. All new plants are low water use. The landscape architect estimates that the new garden will cut water use by 50 percent compared to the grassy lot that it is replacing.
Eskaton Foundation is raising $330,000 to build the garden. Only $25,000 more in new donations is needed to reach this goal. An anonymous donor is matching donations on a 1:1 basis.
About Eskaton Foundation
Eskaton Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Eskaton, the largest nonprofit community-based provider of older adult services in the Greater Sacramento area. Eskaton Foundation funds essential projects and innovative programs in order to enhance the quality of life of seniors.
About Eskaton
Eskaton is a Northern California-based, nonprofit organization with over 45 years of experience. Our dedicated team members provide services and support for nearly 14,000 individuals who live in our communities or participate in our comprehensive home support network.
###
