As we encourage residents to make better use of their gardens, we hope that all providers will help us support all care home residents to live well, says Avnish Goyal, managing director of Hallmark Care Homes and chair of Care England
All care home residents should be encouraged to embrace the great outdoors; after all, most UK households have a garden and many residents will have been keen gardeners when they lived in their own homes.
We understand the benefits of the great outdoors and consider resident’s needs early on in the design and landscaping of our homes. About 16 years ago, we also introduced a gardening competition for residents. The benefits of this focus on spending time outdoors include: an increased level of physical activity (which can lead to increased appetite and a better night’s sleep); greater mobility and flexibility; reduced stress levels; reduced isolation and feelings of exclusion; and an increase in confidence and levels of self esteem.
It’s often as much about getting out in the fresh air and enjoying the outdoor space as it is about the gardening itself. Of course, a significant number of people living in care homes also have dementia, whether it has been formally diagnosed or not. It is therefore time that care providers looked at ways in which they can incorporate regular outdoor events into their lifestyle programmes and turned the garden into a space where activities take place throughout the year to encourage reminiscence, relaxation and socialisation.
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