The Importance of Gardens and Outdoor Spaces for Care Home Residents

In care homes, the focus is often on the provision of medical care and support for daily living activities. While these are undoubtedly crucial, the living environment itself also contributes significantly to residents’ overall wellbeing. Gardens and outdoor spaces are a key part of this environment, helping to promote physical activity, stimulate the senses and lift the mood.

At KYN's care homes, we believe that engaging with nature is integral to creating a nurturing and therapeutic environment for our residents. In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of gardens and outdoor spaces in care homes, and how they contribute to enhancing residents’ quality of life.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Gardens

Gardens are a feast for the senses. The vibrant colours of trees and flowers, the rustling of leaves in the wind and the scent of fresh earth all provide sensory stimulation. This can be particularly beneficial for residents with dementia. Sensory experiences can trigger memories and emotions, helping people to connect with their past and engage with the present. Moreover, gardens offer a calming and peaceful environment. The gentle sounds of nature and the feel of the sun or a gentle breeze on the skin can help to reduce stress and anxiety. KYN care homes feature dedicated sensory gardens, landscaped grounds and outdoor terraces for residents to enjoy at their leisure.

Therapeutic Gardening

Gardening itself can be a therapeutic activity. The act of planting seeds, nurturing them, and seeing them grow can provide a sense of purpose and achievement. For residents who may have been avid gardeners in the past, this presents an opportunity to continue their hobby and maintain their identity. Furthermore, gardening can provide a gentle form of exercise, helping to maintain mobility, motor skills and physical health. It can also stimulate cognitive function, helping to keep the mind engaged and focused.

Promoting Movement

Outdoor spaces naturally encourage movement, offering a more stimulating setting for physical activity. Instead of exercising in a gym, residents can enjoy the scenery of a garden, making the activity more enjoyable and less like a chore. Whether it's a gentle stroll along a path, or a more active participation in gardening activities, regular physical activity can improve mobility, strength, and balance. This helps to reduce the risk of falls, supporting residents in maintaining their independence.

Encouraging Social Interaction

Outdoor spaces form a vital part of life in a care home. They act as social hubs, encouraging interaction between residents, loved ones and the care team. They can facilitate a range of social activities, from garden parties to outdoor games, promoting a sense of community within our care homes.

Gardens offer a sense of freedom and openness, which can make social interactions feel less forced and more natural.  This can help residents to feel connected with others and develop social bonds, which is vital for emotional wellbeing.

Shared Gardening Activities

Shared gardening activities can also promote social interaction. Whether it's planting a new flower bed, maintaining a vegetable patch, or simply watering the plants, these activities can provide opportunities for communication and shared enjoyment. They can also stimulate conversation, as residents discuss their gardening techniques, share their knowledge, or reminisce about their own gardens.

Furthermore, these shared activities can foster a sense of community and belonging. By working together on a shared project, residents can feel part of a team, boosting their self-esteem and sense of identity.

Connecting with Nature

At KYN, we strongly believe in the healing power of nature. Connecting with nature can have profound effects on an individual's mental and physical health. For our care home residents, this connection can be facilitated through our landscaped gardens and outdoor spaces.

Extensive research has shown that exposure to nature can have a wealth of benefits, including:

• Lowering the blood pressure
• Reducing stress hormone levels
• Boosting the mood and mental health
• Enhancing sleep quality
• Improving cognitive and neurological functioning

Watching the changing seasons, observing wildlife, or simply enjoying the fresh air can also provide a sense of connection to the natural world. This mindfulness and present-moment awareness is vital for spiritual wellbeing.

Designing for Accessibility and Safety

When designing gardens and outdoor spaces for our care homes at KYN, we place a strong emphasis on accessibility. Paths are wide and flat to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, and seating areas provide ample shade and protection from the elements. Raised beds make gardening activities accessible to those with limited mobility, and sensory elements such as scented plants or textured surfaces enhance the garden experience for those with sensory impairments. Furthermore, the design of our gardens encourages exploration and engagement. This includes a variety of plants to stimulate the senses, interesting features to discover, and comfortable seating areas to relax and enjoy the garden.

Discover KYN Luxury Care Homes

At KYN, we strive to create care home environments that nurture the body, the mind and the spirit. We designed our care homes to be relaxing, engaging spaces where we ourselves would wish to live. Our landscaped gardens and outdoor terraces offer the perfect opportunity for residents to soak up nature, tend to plants or enjoy gentle exercise. KYN residents also enjoy an ever-changing programme of organised activities, from social clubs to cultural events and outings. Our team of carers and nurses are dedicated to providing outstanding, personalised care tailored to residents’ unique needs and wishes. To request a KYN brochure, enquire today. Fill in our online form, call us on +44 (0) 20 3535 1923 or email enquiries@kyn.co.uk.