Spending time outside on a sunny day is a simple yet joyful pleasure many of us take for granted.
Yet for care home residents, it can be difficult to experience because of health conditions or physical or cognitive disabilities.
Many care homes have sensory garden areas designed with their residents’ abilities in mind so everyone can enjoy the delights of nature.
However, our temperamental weather combined with climate change causing heavier than normal rainfall and an increasing number of heatwaves can often hamper the best laid plans.
A major boost to mental and physical health
There is a wealth of research around the benefits of care home residents spending time outside.
Being outdoors is linked to a boost in quality of life including wellbeing, mood and better sleep. Other reported benefits include less agitation and disruptive behaviours.
In addition, providing an outdoor space can encourage social interaction and foster a real sense of community among residents.
At the same time, there is a dearth of research about how much time residents actually spend outside, though studies that do exist point to a shockingly low amount.
In one study of 2,000 residents of 40 nursing homes, of those who were physically able, 32 per cent went outdoors less than once per month, and only 22 per cent daily.
Fresh air come rain or shine
The Met Office predicts our summers will become increasingly drier and hotter over the long term and we’re already experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves with temperatures reaching the mid-30s as well as heavier rainfall.
One way to make ensure residents can enjoy being outside while being protected by the hot sun or sudden downpour is to install a canopy in the garden.
They provide residents with an opportunity to stay outside and take in the fresh air whilst taking part in various hobbies and activities.
All year round outdoor activities
Canopies provide an area away from the communal sitting rooms for residents to enjoy communal activities like singing or to follow their hobbies such as painting, crafts and bird watching.
They also provide a sheltered area for gentle exercise or picnics and birthday parties and community events such as garden parties.
Canopies can contain raised beds so residents who enjoy gardening can still grow flowers, edibles like strawberries and sensory plants and look after them all year round.
A sensory canopy
Some homes turn their canopy area into a sensory garden area for residents who don’t have the mobility to explore any larger gardens.
This can include a hanging windchimes and a water feature or a bird bath alongside a bird feeder for bird lovers.
Raised beds can also be installed under the canopy where residents can grow sensory plants like lavender, rosemary and honeysuckle for their distinctive smells and herbs that residents can harvest for meals.
Spring and summer plants can create a colour fest, helping to lift residents’ moods and brighten any dull day.
Creating an outdoor area in tricky spaces
Spaceshade canopies are perfect for creating outdoor spaces in hard-to-reach areas such as courtyards and are extremely versatile so they can be tailored to suit your exact needs.
They can also be used as walkways or entrances and can be open sided or have glass, polycarbonate or solid side walls with an option to add doors or openings and lighting and heating.
Our canopies are all made of powder coated aluminium and are extremely durable with a 25-year warranty and very low maintenance needed.
Our team of experts have been working in the healthcare sector for over 30 years installing canopies for walkways, gardens, storage areas and shelters.
If you’d like to find out more about our canopies, please contact us.
