Interior designs


architecture plays a critical therapeutic role. A growing body of research demonstrates


that access to natural light, views of nature, and outdoor environments can significantly reduce agitation, anxiety, and distress in people living with dementia. Poorly designed environments; characterised by glare, excessive noise, visual clutter, and confusing layouts can increase cognitive load at a time when cognitive resources are already compromised. Biophilic environments support


regulation at a neurological level. Exposure to natural daylight helps regulate circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality and reducing the severity of late day agitation often associated with sundowning. Views of trees, sky, and landscape provide what researchers describe as ‘soft fascination’ – gentle sensory engagement that calms the nervous system without demanding focused attention. Natural materials and textures offer familiarity and grounding, supporting feelings of safety and recognition even as memory declines. For people receiving palliative or end of


life care, the benefits of biophilic design are equally profound. At this stage of life, people often experience heightened emotional sensitivity, anxiety, and existential distress, alongside reduced tolerance for artificial or clinical environments. Studies in palliative settings show that


access to nature can reduce perceived pain, lower anxiety, and support emotional comfort when words are no longer helpful. Views of the natural world offer presence without demand, allowing residents and families moments of peace, reflection, and connection. “Nature acts directly on the nervous


system, supporting emotional regulation, stress recovery and a sense of safety, effects that are especially critical for vulnerable populations.” Importantly, these benefits extend beyond


the people living in the care environment. Calmer, more regulated environments lead to calmer residents, which in turn reduces emotional and physical strain on staff and visitors. Fewer incidents of distress, improved sleep patterns, and more settled care settings create positive feedback loops that support care quality, staff wellbeing, and relational presence. In this way, biophilic architecture acts as shared therapeutic infrastructure, supportingeveryone using the space simultaneously. Taken together, the biophilic design approach at Wetherby Care & Retirement


Village can be seen as an early example of what is likely to become standard practice as care environments evolve in response to rising complexity, emotional demand, and the growing role of care homes as places of living, dying and remembrance.


A rooftop sanctuary: architecture as an emotional safety net One of the most tangible expressions of Wetherby’s people first approach is the third floor staff suite and rooftop terrace. This space was deliberately conceived not as a conventional staff room, but as a restorative environment that supports staff wellbeing within the context of emotionally demanding care work. Located at the top of the building, the


suite benefits from generous natural daylight and expansive views across the surrounding countryside, with direct access onto the rooftop terrace. In care environments where staff may spend long periods indoors under artificial lighting and sustained emotional pressure, the ability to access fresh air, daylight, and open views during the working day has demonstrable benefits. The terrace offers visual relief and a sense


of separation from the intensity of care settings below, while exposure to natural light supports alertness and circadian regulation. Importantly, this outdoor space enables brief restorative breaks without staff needing to leave the building or disengage


from their role, reinforcing outdoor access as an essential wellbeing resource rather than a luxury. Internally, the staff suite incorporates


different settings to accommodate differing needs. Quieter areas allowing privacy for reflection following difficult moments, while more social spaces support informal debriefing and peer connection. This flexibility reflects an understanding that wellbeing is not uniform, and that staff require different forms of support at different times. Together, the suite and rooftop terrace demonstrate how architecture can actively contribute to emotional sustainability within care environments – design for wellbeing in practice rather than principle.


What might the future of care provision look like? Wetherby points towards how care environments might continue to evolve as the emotional demands of care work become more widely acknowledged. Future care homes may incorporate dedicated spaces for reflection, bereavement support, and post incident debriefing, recognising that grief is an inevitable part of care work and deserves safe, appropriate expression. Future care environments may


incorporate dedicated spaces for quiet reflection following a death, areas where staff can pause after emotionally demanding moments, or shared spaces that allow


July 2026 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 21


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