Assisted Living Landscaping: Enhancing Quality of Life for Residents
As a property manager of an assisted living facility, creating an environment that fosters quality of life for your senior residents is essential. One aspect that can significantly impact their well-being is the landscaping that surrounds them. In this blog post, we’re going to dive into the world of assisted living landscaping and explore how it can enhance the everyday lives of your residents and make your facility an even more desirable and welcoming place to live.
Benefits of Assisted Living Landscaping
Increase Safety
Safety is a top priority for any assisted living community. Proper landscaping can create clear and accessible pathways for residents to move around the property. This includes the proper installation of paved walkways and ramps that can be easily navigated with wheelchairs and walkers. Landscape maintenance can also ensure pathways are free from tripping hazards such as loose stones, uneven surfaces, and overgrown roots.
It’s important to choose a commercial landscaping partner who always takes safety into consideration. Your landscaper should work closely with you to make sure that all the unique considerations of your community are taken into account, like being mindful of residents’ routines and doors that must remain locked. These can differ from property to property, so it’s critical that they are working with your specific needs.
Create a Better First Impression
Proper landscaping can have a significant impact on the first impression that potential customers and visiting family members have when they arrive at your facility. A well-maintained and attractive landscape creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, making visitors feel more comfortable. It can also convey a sense of care and attention to detail, indicating that the facility places a high priority on providing a relaxing and pleasant environment.
In contrast, a poorly maintained landscape can give the impression that the facility is neglected or uninviting, turning off potential customers.
Provide Ample Lighting
Having adequate lighting is essential to maintaining a safe and functional environment. A well-lit landscape can help to deter crime and prevent accidents, as well as help residents navigate their way around the facility at night. Lighting fixtures can be installed along walkways, near entrances, and in parking areas.
The design of the landscaping also contributes to the amount of natural light available to your residents, both inside the facility and out. To help with cooling costs, trees can be planted in strategic locations to block the sun from the building during the hot summer months. Similarly, you can create shady locations for outdoor seating areas so residents and their families can enjoy the outdoors.
Health and Well-being
Designing and maintaining your landscape properly can have a big impact on your residents’ health. Studies have shown that exposure to nature can have a positive impact on stress levels, energy levels, and mental health. Exposure to natural light and fresh air can promote better sleep, which is crucial for overall health and well-being.
Ways to Improve Landscaping for Your Residents
Design for Safety and Comfort
Choose materials that will prevent trip hazards, reduce glare, and potentially reduce fall impact. Size the pathways and arrange furniture to allow residents with assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and oxygen to comfortably navigate and experience the outdoor amenities.
Provide Shade
Use your landscaping to provide shade for your residents. Plant trees strategically around the facility to provide natural shade and help regulate temperature. Trees, pergolas, trellises, and other shade structures can be installed to provide additional shelter from the sun. These structures create an inviting outdoor space for residents to gather, socialize, and enjoy the fresh air.
Include Seating
Use your landscaping to create a comfortable and relaxing outdoor space for residents and their families to enjoy. Install benches or chairs along walkways, near garden areas, or in shady places. These seating options can be designed so they are easily accessible for seniors with limited mobility. Consider armrests, high backs, and other features that make sitting and standing easier.
It’s a good idea to create quiet spots and gathering areas. This will allow residents who are looking for a calm and relaxing experience to enjoy their peace. While also giving residents the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities and interact with others. Add outdoor dining areas with tables to allow residents to enjoy meals, read a book, or play games.
Add a Water Feature
Adding a water feature to your facility is a great way to attract attention and create a peaceful outdoor space. Water features add a focal point to your landscape design and can be used as a gathering place. The sound of water can be soothing and relaxing for residents and provides something to sit and watch. Adding a bird bath, fountain, small stream or pond to your landscaping to create a calming outdoor experience.
Add Outdoor Lighting
Enhance the outdoor experience and increase safety with outdoor lighting. Installing low-voltage lighting along pathways can make it easier and safer for residents to navigate the outdoor spaces during evening hours. Highlighting a gathering area or outdoor seating makes it more functional and useful for residents, which can encourage more use and socialization. You can also illuminate your flowers or garden areas so they are beautiful and inviting even at night.
Attract Butterflies and Other Pollinators
A favorite pastime of many is birdwatching and butterfly-watching. This is a great non-physical activity for residents to participate in. Both activities can be enhanced by strategically choosing flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators, as well as providing trees, bird baths and other shelters. Your residents will love sitting outside and watching the show, or even enjoying it from their window!
Add Color Throughout the Year
Looking at beautiful flowers and landscaping is calming and can bring joy to your residents. Incorporating color into your landscaping is a simple way to brighten up your space and bring life to your residents. Use a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants. Evergreens provide color and interest throughout the year, while deciduous plants provide seasonal interest with their colorful leaves and flowers.
Your professional landscape design company can help you choose flowers with different blooming times to provide a variety of colors throughout the year. You can also incorporate a variety of colorful foliage, such as red or purple-leaved barberry or yellow-leaved hosta. Consider adding a special seasonal display to bring extra joy to everybody who visits your facility.
Proper Assisted Living Landscaping Enhances Quality of Life
At Seasons Best Landscaping, we understand the responsibility of maintaining the landscape of your senior living community. We are committed to ensuring that the current residents and staff can enjoy the space and that future residents are attracted to your facility. We understand the gravity of this responsibility and are committed to ensuring that you are always presented in the most favorable manner.
If you are seeking a partner who shares your goals and values, we would be honored to work with you. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s work together to create a beautiful and welcoming outdoor environment for your community!
