Autumn 2024Rochdale Infirmary opens ‘Oasis Garden’

Rochdale Infirmary, with support from its official charity, NorthCare, has officially opened a unique Oasis Garden, an outdoor space designed to support patients living with dementia or cognitive impairments.

The project was supported by the donation of 120 litres of paint by Darwen-based Crown Paints, including paint specially formulated in an easy to view ‘dementia blue’ shade – a unique hue developed by the Crown Colour Studio in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Around 500 patients will use the garden, which opened in August, each year.

The Oasis Garden has been created using charitable funds, donations from local companies, and support from volunteers, to provide Rochdale Infirmary’s patients, their families and colleagues with a break from the hospital environment and a safe space to spend time together.

It features custom flowerbeds and planters at the right size and height to be used by patients in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, as well as a designated area for employee wellbeing.

Russell Kitchen, operations support manager at Crown Paints, said: “As proud national charity partners of the Alzheimer’s Society, it was a real honour to support the transformation of the Oasis Garden. We know the transformative power that colour and paint can have, and we’re proud to be able to provide a donation that has helped make the Oasis Garden a reality.

Karen Casper, fundraising officer at NorthCare Charity, said: “The Oasis Garden has been an 18-month labour of love. To see it in use now makes it worth all of the hard work and determination of everyone involved in the project.”