Each year, the same scenario occurs as soon as the first heat wave of the summer arrives. Health establishments lack air conditioners to face a new heat wave. However, solutions exist, and they make it possible to reduce the effects of episodes of extreme heat. This is precisely the mission of Nature Québec with its Healthy Living Environments program.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The Institute for Rehabilitation in Physical Impairment of Quebec now has a “therapeutic path” for its clientele. This one is in a space of 3000 m2 which was vegetated in 2017.
A total of 232 trees – as well as several species of perennials – were planted where there was a parking lot. This project was piloted by a team from Nature Québec, as part of the Healthy Living Environments program. For seven years, the organization has been working to green health facilities in the province.
“There is plenty of data on the positive effects of nature on health,” explains Cyril Frazao, executive director of Nature Québec. According to him, health establishments should be “exemplary” in this area.
From words to deeds
More and more doctors are prescribing nature walks to their patients. With the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance records have also been observed in several national parks. Nature has never been so fashionable in terms of health.
For healthcare establishments, the challenge remains significant, despite the obvious benefits. According to Cyril Frazao, the main difficulty consists in convincing establishments to move from words to deeds. In general, everyone agrees on the positive effects of nature on health.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILIEUX DE VIE EN SANTÉ/NATURE QUÉBEC.
Several trees were planted at the Center d’hébergement Frederick-George-Heriot, in Drummondville.
It is when the time comes to make concrete choices that the situation becomes more complicated, explains Cyril Frazao. “We regularly meet with the CEOs of healthcare establishments, who support the principle. That’s when it comes down [dans la hiérarchie] it gets more complicated. When the time comes to remove parking spaces to green these spaces…”
Mr. Frazao indicates that he is working more and more with doctors – in particular with the Quebec Association of Physicians in the Environment (AQME) – to move the files forward. But the potential gains remain limited, as the design of the current buildings does not allow a lot of space to be greened. “Most of our establishments date back 75 million years,” quipped Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers, doctor and president of the AQME. They were built next to huge parking lots, which are very big heat islands. »
According to the young family doctor, however, there is no shortage of data, particularly on the effects of heat islands on human health. “During the summer, this will be one of the main causes of consultation in tomorrow’s emergencies”, she underlines.
Greener seniors’ homes?
Cyril Frazao had great hopes in the new seniors’ homes proposed by the Government of Quebec. An opportunity to design these establishments from the outset by surrounding them with green spaces.
In theory, this aspect is taken into consideration, according to Mr. Frazao. But in reality, old habits die hard. He gives the example of cutting down dozens of mature trees to build a seniors’ home in Sainte-Foy.
“We cut everything and then we plant a few trees, thinking that it will do the trick”, denounces Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers.
In general, our leaders are still aware of the positive effects of nature, but we do not think much more about it.
The DD Claudel Petrin-Desrosiers
However, several studies have shown the benefits of some trees on physical and mental health. According to the DD Pétrin-Desrosiers, a study carried out in the 1980s even showed that the sight of a few trees from the window of one’s hospital room makes it possible to shorten hospital stays and reduce the use of painkillers.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILIEUX DE VIE EN SANTÉ/NATURE QUÉBEC
Landscaping carried out on the grounds of the Saint-Sacrement hospital, in Quebec
She also gives the example of studies that have shown that children performed better in school when they had a view of trees in the schoolyard. “It will take better government leadership,” she believes. But things are changing in the health network. More and more professionals understand the importance of having a bit of nature around an establishment.
For their part, Cyril Frazao and his team are continuing their work with the Healthy Living Environments program. “We have four projects underway in CHSLDs. We continue to push for seniors’ homes. »