title: Patients' recovery experiences of indoor plants and viewsof nature in a rehabilitation center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an increasing interest in the possible healing factors connected to the presence of nature elements in health institutions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to get a deeper understanding of how residents in a residential rehabilitation center experience the views through windows and the indoor plants, and whether and how the view and the plants can impact their recovery process.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth individual and group interviews were conducted among 16 residents at a rehabilitation center in Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants said that the indoor plants and the view of nature were pleasant to look at and elicited feelings of relaxation and positive emotions which contributed to opportunities for reflection and contemplation. They expressed a feeling of connectedness to nature: a feeling of wholeness and spirituality elicited by the nature elements. They also expressed that the presence of nature elements contributed to a sense of being taken care of.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nature elements, such as a view of nature or indoor plants, seem to enhance opportunities for reflection, feelings of meaningfulness and sense of being taken care of which may strengthen their feeling of well-being and make them more resilient to the stressors in life.
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Ruth Kjærsti
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Raanaas
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019368:Nature; D010944:Plants; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012063:Relaxation / Q000523:psychology; D012112:Residential Facilities
keywords: Healing environment; interior plants; restoration; window view