“Forget for a Moment”

Since Ulrich's first research in 1984, we know that nature has a significant impact on the stress levels of hospitalized patients. Yet, nearly 40 years after this major discovery, applications remain rare in the West: lack of resources, administrative mazes, installation difficulties,… nothing is ever missing, in fact, when it comes to finding reasons not to act.

Suffering from cancer, Jeannine Lafrenière spent hundreds of hours in a hospital in the Montreal area. “I would have liked so much to be able to rely on something other than magazines to ease my anxiety. If only there had been greenery in the waiting room, it would have helped me lose myself in the beauty of nature and momentarily forget my anguish,” she confided later. She then decided to create the Fondation Oublie Pour Un Instant (Forget For a Moment), a federally and provincially registered charity.

The goal? Provide a few moments of respite, wonder and joy by introducing the splendor of nature to people who do not have access to it. The way? Develop green spaces in health establishments. In the Ottawa-Gatineau region, the Fondation Oublie Pour Un Instant has installed green walls in health and residential centers.

This initiative benefits both the well-being of the patients and the staff. “People stop in front of the wall; they touch the leaves, they contemplate this wall of happiness and tranquility. Thank you very much on behalf of the residents, families and employees,” says the manager of a residence for the elderly in which the Foundation financed a living wall.

In the photo illustrating this article, Jeannine stands behind a resident who cried with joy when she discovered this wall. “It brought my mother back to life,” her daughter said. "Whenever she was agitated, I would push her wheelchair towards these plants, and they would soothe her."

The Foundation, while continuing its living wall projects, is now embarking on a new initiative: indoor, raised planters, accessible for all wheelchair users.

By donating to this charity, you can let nature to soothe the daily lives of hundreds of people.