Wellness
be delivered in a way which allows some privacy. The moods of people alter daily, so access to a variety of front of house spaces in different schemes are also important as they facilitate resident choice. Choice in furniture specification is another
key wellness indicator. Other than being in hospital, in prison, or in the military, there are few situations in which adults find themselves where they do not have agency over their interior surroundings. Many care homes make the mistake (and this is a big one) of allowing residents to bring their own lounger or bedroom chair. In nearly every instance, these will not have been upholstered in the necessary CRIB 5 standard fabric compliant for a commercial building. Should there be a fire involving such furniture, an operator would have significant liability. A better choice would be to allow items such as personal bedside tables or bookshelves. One word of caution, however; when older wooden furniture comes into a care home the operator will need to check that the back has been fully finished, or that a coat of oil has been added to the back to prevent potential mould spores from blooming in what is likely to be a warmer atmosphere than the previous furniture location. Linseed oil is a good option for this. Of course, an agreement must be reached with family members to take possession of any such goods when circumstances change in the future. When design professionals and operators
choose bedroom schemes for a building, how much personal choice is provided in the design of what is likely to be a person’s final dwelling? Simply allowing residents to add personal effects is not really a choice, as such. How many bedroom schemes are on offer? Alternative approaches for personal choice are reviewed in the WIDA recommendations once the audit has been completed. A critical concern for anyone designing
Wellness is brought about by a series of active decisions
to ascertain. Using a small hand-held LRV meter will assist, and the WIDA links users to a UK-based supplier.
Interior/Exterior Links The pupils in older eyes react more slowly than those of younger people. A step up in lighting levels in areas leading to an exterior space is critical, as otherwise people can be temporarily blinded. Likewise, coming back into a building from the garden requires the transition space to fulfil as similar role in reverse. We have a basic human need to engage
interiors for senior living is understanding light reflective value differences (LRVs), which visually contrast furniture against wall and floor surfaces – an important consideration for comfort and safety. While some suppliers provide this information (paint and flooring companies are particularly good at offering this ), upholstery fabrics are much more difficult
with nature, as evidenced in a substantial amount of research undertaken over the past decade. This has led to the development of biophilic design principles, supporting general wellness with positive moods, additional vitamin D intake through the skin, and improved sleep patterns. Even expensive circadian lighting will not have as much impact as simply going outside. We therefore must examine what has
been put in place to encourage egress to an adjoining garden space or terrace. The WIDA encourages an inviting place to sit and change footwear, hats, and walking sticks, and direct sight lines to raised bedding to encourage interaction with nature. Are the raised beds just for show, or are plants, bedding materials, and support on offer to people wishing to actually garden themselves? In some care homes, animals are viewed
as an ‘activity’ brought in on occasion for the amusement of residents. However, personal well-behaved pets or a group ‘home cat’ can give ongoing stimulation and the
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com February 2026
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