Outdoor spaces
Turning residential care inside out
As with most aspects of care, interiors have advanced immeasurably since the Furncare brand was first established 20 years ago. Here, Furncare director Randal Southall turns the residential care market ‘inside out’ by looking at the role of the outdoors in modern care environments
Thanks to cutting edge design, the use of new materials, and the ever-changing regulatory landscape, the user experience has never been better for residents. Having innovated, invested, and upgraded inside, it is worth looking outside, too. After all, since childhood we have all been told that fresh air and the great outdoors are good for us. The physical, social, and emotional benefits of spending time outdoors apply to all of us; young, old, residents, carers, and families. Thinking about the life journey of a typical resident (pre-internet and Netflix), more time was spent outdoors than nowadays. Many will have spent their happiest and healthiest years tending their own gardens, growing vegetables, weeding, and mowing the lawn. Ironically, once all those jobs were done, there was invariably precious little leisure time left to appreciate the fruits of their labours. For residents in a care community, those obligations no longer apply and every day is a weekend. Now, therefore, is their time. Care home grounds cannot replicate the domestic garden setting of a resident’s younger, independent days. They can, however, provide relaxing, peaceful, safe, and stimulating environments to read, relax, or socialise in. Research from specialist garden designers Step Change
Tom and Lee tend the gardens at Goodwins Hall Care Home
reveals that all it takes is some outdoor seating or benches for residents to spend 20 per cent more time outside.
Like a miracle drug Bathing in the warmth of gentle sunshine allows us to convert ultraviolet B rays into vitamin D. Vitamin D is likened to a miracle drug – many leading scientists credit vitamin D with protective and restorative properties which can combat osteoporosis, cancer, depression, heart attacks, and strokes. Spending time outside promotes mobility and improves circulation, too. Time outdoors can also reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. Nature can evoke memories and stimulate creativity, while sensory gardens and
Tom and Lee under an innovative garden shelter made from recycled drinks bottles
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Time outdoors can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function
outdoor therapy enhances holistic care. However, these benefits cannot be at
the expense of the planet. All Furncare production facilities and manufacturers are committed to contributing to a more sustainable world. The FSC ‘tick tree’ logo features on all our outdoor wooden furniture, ensuring that the timber is sourced responsibly.
Making the beds in a care home garden Furncare customer Athena Care Homes place huge importance on their outside spaces. At Goodwins Hall – one of their seven residential homes in East Anglia – visitors are greeted on arrival by a magnificent fountain and circular driveway. Edged in shrubs of all shapes and sizes, it is clear that the outside space has been nurtured by green-fingered experts and knowledgeable enthusiasts over many years. General manager Flavia Hansell is very proud of Goodwins Hall, inside and out. Before she took us on a guided tour of the
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com June 2024
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