"[Bill] Thomas laid out the thinking behind his Proposal. The aim he said, was to attack what he termed the Three Plagues of nursing home existence: boredom, loneliness, and helplessness. To attack the Three Plagues they needed to bring in some life. They'd put green plants in every room. They’d tear up the lawn and create a vegetable and flower garden. And they’d bring in animals."

p116, '5 A Better Life' , 'Being Mortal', Profile Books, ISBN 978-1846685828 ― Atul Gawande

— being mortal by Atul Gawande (Page 116)