5 Environments for Healing: Global and Health Care Climates
Human beings are characterized by the ability to choose and change;
the same minds that have created the technology and our modern world
can create new innovative solutions that can sustain present and future generations.
– Susan Luck, Integrative Nurse Coach & Author
Integrative Health Care (IHC) recognizes that we are a part of a larger ecosystem wherein the health of our environment is inextricably connected to our own (Bakken Centre, n.d.). Care providers and consumers can play vital roles in promoting and creating a healthy environment, whether at a global, societal, communal, organizational, or personal level (Sudak & Harvey, 2023; Zborowsky & Kreitzer, 2019). However, many unhealthy environmental circumstances are beyond our immediate control, further impacting our well-being (Galway & Field, 2023; Mental Health Commission of Canada, n.d.). This chapter will identify health-promoting ways of navigating these complex realities, first in relation to broader environmental health issues, then in relation to health care and healing environments.
Environmental Health Issues
Tending to our own well-being as we tend to that of our environments involves a delicate balance, especially at this time in history when we are experiencing so many environmental health issues. Very helpful perspective and guidance is offered in the following two resources:
Environment and Wellbeing | Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing (umn.edu)
Whole Systems Healing Overview | Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing (umn.edu)
The University of Minnesota’s Bakken Center reminds us that we are not alone in this complex and difficult work, and that we can approach it in healing, holistic ways that are effective and sustainable. The following podcast speaks specifically to the individual and collective spiritual work involved:
Christiana Figueres — Ecological Hope, and Spiritual Evolution | The On Being Project
Further environmental health resources are included in Appendices A and B. In this chapter, you are invited to simply be aware of the many general resources available:
Environmental Health Risks – Canada.ca
Of course, each of us may be faced with the challenge of identifying and mitigating environmental hazards within our communities, workplaces, and homes (Hange, 2023). Therefore, the following resources are also included:
Assessment Tools – ANHE (envirn.org)
CCOHS: Hazard and Risk – Hazard Identification
Healthy home guide – Canada.ca
Finally, since healthy eating is one of the most life-giving ways that we can contribute to our own and our environment’s health, you are invited to check out this WHO resource:
Sustainable Healthy Diets: Guiding Principles
Healing Environments
Another life-giving way to nurture ourselves, our environment, and everyone within it is to intentionally co-create spaces that promote wholeness and healing. While there inevitably will be limitations to work around, there are always modifications we can make to significantly influence our environment’s capacity for promoting and restoring health. Again, University of Minnesota’s Bakken Centre helpful guidance in this resource prepared by Mary Jo Kreitzer (n.d.):
What Can I Do to Create a Healing Environment? | Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing (umn.edu)
As identified in the above resource’s guidelines, there are considerations to make in each of the places where we spend time. This video featuring the seminal work of M.D. Esther Sternberg, offers further introduction to related evidence-base:
Healing spaces – The science of place and well-being: Dr. Esther Sternberg
As Dr. Stenberg acknowledges, our health care facilities too often fall short when it comes to offering environments that fully promote the well-being of consumers, families, and caregivers. Again, the work of Dr. Wayne Jonas has contributed; he, along with his colleagues at The Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute have researched and identified the elements of ‘Optimal Healing Environments (OHEs)’. The following open access journal article offers an introduction to their work and wisdom:
Sakallaris, B., MacAllister, L., Voss, M., Smith, K., Jonas, W. (2015). Optimal healing environments. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(3):40-45. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4424933/
Everyone involved in an individual’s health care and healing can help co-create an optimal healing environment that is individualized and meaningful. Offered below are examples of reflective questions that can help identify ways to enhance the quality of an individual’s healing environment in a health care setting (where related restrictions are often the most challenging). The questions are written in a way that health care consumers, families, and care providers all can consider them. Of course, when an individual’s health conditions and circumstances limit their capacity for arriving at and/or acting upon resulting insights, others’ related initiative in essential.
Sample Questions to Help Create an Optimal Healing Environment in Health Care Facilities
What small symbols and treasured items might offer comfort and inspiration?
How can existing items be adapted or used to create a more restful space? (adding favorite quotations or images to message boards; adjusting placement of furniture or equipment)
What favorite music or other soothing/enjoyable sounds could be introduced? How is it easiest to view/listen to preferred audiovisual (A/V)? With what devices? Who can provide them? Assist with their operation if needed?
How can hospital noise be reduced? (using ear plugs; using ear buds if listening to other A/V; attention to keeping voices low when possible)
How can more privacy be given? (meeting/visiting in quiet spaces available; limiting visitors if needed)
What healing practices could be explored/used? How can they/necessary materials be accessed? (e.g. guided imagery; meditation and/or prayer; creative expression)
What comfort measures could be requested/received? (e.g. back or hand massages; warm blankets)
What additional healing practitioners might be most supportive and suitable to add? What related collaboration needs to happen for safe navigation of any related logistics? (e.g. consulting relevant health care team members; requesting referrals; seeking out community practitioners who make hospital visits; arranging privacy for treatments)
What, if any, individuals or behaviors disrupt/interfere with healing space? Does anyone need to be asked to adapt their approach or to refrain from being present? By who? (Family or caregivers can tend to such communication if this reduces the consumer’s stress and expenditure of energy.)
How can more exposure to light and the natural world occur? (Opening curtains if a window; asking for assistance to visit available light-filled spaces or even the outdoors if able)
What else could be brought or arranged to enhance the healing space? (favorite &/or optimally nutritious foods; fun, enjoyable diversions; anything that honors the individual’s unique needs and ways of being) Who can make these deliveries and arrangements?
What cosmetic or structural changes to the built-space could be advocated for? What evidence-base can support such advocacy? Who might be approached to help fund such changes?
(Krietzer, n.d.; Scott Barss, 1999 & 2012)
Collaborative exploration of the ‘E’ in WHOLE Care certainly can unfold in many, multi-faceted, innovative directions throughout the course of care. The hope is that we are able to engage in exploration that is the most meaningful, uplifting, and effective, especially for those most in need of a healing environment at a given time and place. Doing so creates the necessary conditions for the holistic care of self and others on a daily basis, on which our final chapter focuses.
