Outdoor spaces
their community space, it stands to reason that their pride and sense of worth will be positively impacted.
Sociability At Orchard, we love to bring people together regularly. Gardens provide a community space where we can share time with carers, family, and visitors, so we encourage people to step beyond the walls of the home as much as possible – whatever the weather. That sense of togetherness reduces social isolation. Coming together in a shared space to potter or have a cup of tea with a group does wonders for social interaction. Being away from a TV or the hustle and bustle of some of the indoor communal spaces adds a welcome change of scenery. We find that being outside can evoke different feelings and emotions and spark conversations. Some of our most enjoyable and productive reminiscing sessions have taken place outside and can help to relax people and enable them to unlock inhibitions, communicate effectively, and
engage with others. For example, hearing a certain bird or
Gardens provide a community space where we can share time with carers, family, and visitors
Case Study: creating the perfect space
When considering a community garden, it is very important to think beyond the aesthetic and visual impact and to try to incorporate as many sensory areas, relaxing seating zones, and places for reflection as possible. The outdoor space also needs to be practical, easy to maintain for busy staff, and useable come rain or shine.
Throughout the Orchard in Bloom
event, we have been so impressed with the innovation and hard work from our teams. With a budget of £1,000 per home, they have done wonders to re-invigorate the community gardens to provide us with year-round pleasure. One of the joint winners was Three Bridges Care Home in Warrington. Talking us through the thinking behind their winning garden makeover, care home manager Jamie Ashton explains: “Our aim was not just to create a winning garden but to work with the residents, their families, and all the staff to create spaces that provided areas to reflect, to reminisce, to grow vegetables, eat meals, and to be close to nature, encouraging birds, bees, and butterflies to visit.
“First impressions count – so as you arrive at the home, we have created low
maintenance areas using fun planters, bright flowers, bird feeders, and our stone ‘Alice in Wonderland Tea Party’ sign acknowledging the links Warrington has to Lewis Carrol. We even have a fairy glen! “Our main courtyard garden is for all to use. The path takes you on a journey past vibrant bold colours including red, orange, and yellows. These colours boost mood and energy and are easy for residents to focus on. Yellow is the colour that represents caregivers. Our ‘vintage bike’ points you in the direction of the potting shed where residents will see familiar items such as watering cans, brooms, and washing lines. As you continue your journey, you pass familiar plants such as marigolds and bedding plants. Families told us these were plants many of their relatives had in their own gardens. Wind chimes create soothing sounds and fun metallic wall decorations catch the sun. Our benches face the ‘Three Bridges’ – positioned over a dry riverbed. Resident’s visiting pets have loved jumping over this feature. “The raised wooden planter enables residents to tend the plants and feel involved in maintaining their garden. “We next designed an area that has blue, white, and mauve plants. Calmer colours represent living with Alzheimer’s. We
then have a section of purple plants – representing loss to Alzheimer’s. As we turn towards the vegetable patch, we pass our bed of white and green planting with white as a sign for hope. “The vegetables and herbs are positioned next to our al fresco table and chairs. Residents and visitors have enjoyed eating lunch in the garden and offers us an alternative space for setting meals and morning teas.
“Our Dementia Garden is laid out with the same journey and includes plants donated by our residents and their families. When moving into the home, we believe that it is not just their room that needs personalising but also their garden, so planting shrubs from their own gardens can help with this.
“Our gardening club is now a permanent feature; none of this could have been possible without the support of many of the resident’s families who gave their time and knowledge to help with our latest project. The beautiful outdoor areas we now have, and the friendships formed between colleagues and resident’s families, have created new memories together, and we are very excited to use our improved community garden for many years to come.”
October 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 53
seeing a species of flower can provoke a memory and ignite a conversation. Many of our people had beautiful gardens of their own, and often it is something many miss when they come into a care home. We consider our outdoor spaces as a garden for everyone, so if someone wants to grow a particular flower or vegetable, we try to support them with that, too. We love to host events in our gardens – visits from musicians, garden parties, and celebrations have all taken place in our outdoor spaces. We get creative with gazebos if we need to provide shelter from the elements to ensure our gardens are enjoyed all year round.
Stress-reduction Studies show that regularly spending just 20 minutes a day outside can reduce stress levels. Walking, gardening, or sitting outside can relieve anxiety, as cortisol
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