Gardens


Familiar environments may well be more legible and distinctive, relating to our background and culture and what we feel comfortable with. Finding ourselves in an unfamiliar environment can be stressful and impair our ability to navigate. We note that familiar environments will


vary according to the various cultures in the UK.


Accessibility, comfort, and safety are priorities for all abilities. Designers need to understand clearly who they are designing for and what their background and culture is. Memory triggers – things that stand out and are meaningful – can help and are placed to mark particular areas. I have a large multi-stemmed Himalayan Birch with white bark in my front garden – so when I am describing this to someone who is going to visit, I use this as the visual marker! However, this may be more appropriate for a park than a care home garden.


Accessibility includes being able to


find, see, recognise and to get to/from a destination. It may include being able to operate a door or negotiate a change in level. Tonal contrast of around 30 Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is needed to see what we need to. Conversely, for easy and safe movement on paths and pavements, strong tonal contrast should be avoided i.e. less than about 5 LRV. Tactile aids can help. Things we need to see include doors,


handrails, signs, edges, changes in level, barriers, seats, and wayfinding objects /


memory triggers. These should all contrast with their background. Things we do not need to see are, for


example, joints between different ground surfaces, manhole / drainage covers, and door mats. These therefore need minimal contrast.


Safety – if an environment is perceived as not safe for a person with a disability, those caring for them with be loath to let them outside on their own. There must be:


n No trip hazards. n No poisonous, thorny, or irritant plants within reach.


n A reassuring design or structure to the garden to reduce anxiety and confusion.


n For care homes, an enclosed garden to keep safe those people who might wish to ‘escape’.


However, the form of enclosure should be visually concealed, to avoid looking imprisoning.


The photo below shows how a high retaining wall has been screened with planting – which also has the advantage of helping the air quality too. Today, with changing climate, sun, and shelter are paramount, as weather can change very quickly from hot and sunny to wind and heavy rain. We need to consider places outside where people will not suffer from the elements. Well-designed outdoor spaces can help with all of these – and when designing


outdoor spaces, e.g., gardens, parks (private or public), ‘inclusive design’ is an important consideration – and one never knows what may be round the corner in life! Careful thought is needed on seating, paving, steps, toilets... The paved area leading to someone’s front door in the photo above could be very hard for those with impaired sight, multiple sclerosis, visuoperceptual issues, autism, or dementia to understand or navigate. It could be interpreted as areas of repair or holes – yet was designed this way. The importance of good maintenance must not be underestimated – the best designed outdoor spaces can become unusable if not looked after.


Signage: n We need clear and well-designed signs to help us navigate:


n Set at a the right height for clear visibility non serif font.


n A clear graphic to help. n Clear contrast between font and background.


Having a graphic can help many people for example, those: n Whose first language is not English. n Who cannot read or have dyslexia n Who have had a stroke n Who are living with dementia.


Considerate gardens and open spaces To summarise, garden and park designers need to be culturally aware, so that those using the outdoor spaces can find them familiar, comforting, and culturally appropriate (see references for further reading at the end of this article).


November 2024 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 41


© Care UK


© Annie Pollock


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