“Biophilia”-inspired design keeping more seniors close to nature by Ilyse Veron in March 8, 2019 in Top Story Jacqueline “Jacquie” Horvath used to tend the plants in the greenhouse at her senior living community in Bethesda, Maryland. A long-time gardener, it always made her happy to have her fingers in the dirt. “Plants are the most healing thing you can have around,” Horvath observes with a Carolina lilt. “They make you feel good,” she says. But the job of moving heavy plants became difficult for Horvath, who is 91. Luckily, she has a new way to stay close to nature. Now she enjoys lunching with friends, nestled in live greenery at the Wintergarden atrium at Fox Hill. The Wintergarden, decorated with ficus trees and a “living wall” of green plants, is an example of a new trend in senior living design to fulfill biophilia, our innate attraction to nature, by bringing the outdoors in. The practice is already popular in office buildings, as well as hospitals and schools seeking to enhance productivity and a sense of wellness while showcasing environmental responsibility. David M.W. Denton, general manager at Fox Hill, says the project fulfills a vision of bringing the outdoors in and “enjoying the benefits of nature year-round.” Biophilia — Love the living Biophilia is an approach to architecture that literally means “love the living.” It has roots in 6000-year old Chinese Feng Shui. Exposure to natural light, plants and the natural world can improve concentration and decrease stress and irritability, research shows. But many seniors spend less time outdoors, whether they live at home or in long-term care communities. “Just because we age, we should not lose contact with nature,” says Jack Carman, a landscape architect based in Medford, NJ who creates therapeutic gardens and outdoor environments for senior living communities. Building professionals report they expect to include more biophilic design principles over the next five years in a range of projects, along with other healthy features such as improving air quality and natural sunlight exposure, according to Stephanie Timm, senior director of Delos Insights, which provides research to real estate developers, builders and architects. A vertical garden at Fox Hill (Ilyse Veron) Timm runs a “Wellbeing and Design” committee that meets monthly at the District Architecture Center in Washington DC, where architects and others share how they are using natural elements, such as skylights, ornamental grasses, or sounds like waterfalls or birds chirping, to promote feelings of wellness indoors. It’s a trend that more families and seniors are looking for when shopping for senior living, says architect Andrew Coelho, senior vice president of construction, facilities and design at Sunrise Senior Living, which operates more than 325 communities. “We’re getting more and more questions about, ‘how sustainable and healthy is it?’” he says. In choosing a senior residence, people think about care, training, cost, how pretty and comfortable the residence is and its reputation, Coelho says. Sunrise is spending more energy in investigating and providing well environments for their residents. “Good senior living design is about putting the resident’s wellness first…We are always thinking about how to keep people active for as long as possible mentally and physically.” While only a fraction of senior facilities gets involved with such elaborate planting, even trends in paint colors show a greater propensity to include natural elements. Green shades are becoming more popular, says Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager of PPG paint brand. “Whether it be in plant or paint form, greens are essential, as they have the ability to reduce activity within the central nervous system and evoke a calm feeling,” she says. A new “building WELL” certification focuses on how design, policy and operations contribute to occupants’ comfort and health. It stems from LEED certification – which focuses on energy efficiency. The certification is being billed by Xue Ya, president of the International Well Building Institute Asia as the only global certification proven to address the relationship between buildings and health. The Institute’s research describes how WELL strategies can promote the health of the human body, including its cardiovascular, immune, and respiratory systems. Right now a handful of luxury senior residences in the United States are seeking to achieve “WELL” status. A good business incentive? Industry data show these investments in natural colors and green elements can offer senior residences a competitive edge. Only 11 out of every 100 seniors (80+) live in senior housing, according to industry analyst Larry Rouvelas. Senior living communities are working hard to compete as more seniors choose to age in place. On a sunny day the windows of resort-like Fox Hill reflect the trees inside and out. There was no certification ten years ago when Fox Hill was built. “We were just trying to do things that were good – offering plenty of daylight, easy access in and out, big windows and outdoor sensory gardens,” Coelho says. Fox Hill’s choice to plant tall ficus trees on moveable casters indoors where there’s ample light alters the aesthetic environment and also adds oxygen to the air with the plants. On a recent afternoon, Horvath made herself at home in the leafy restaurant. “Moving these trees inside is the best thing you ever did,“ she told Denton. Republished from: https://news.memorywell.com/2019/03/04/designing-senior-living-to-promote-nature-and-wellbeing/
Meadowood Senior Living in Worcester, Pennsylvania, envisioned a transformation of the retirement community’s central courtyard. Design for Generations, LLC from Medford, New Jersey, and Eric’s Nursery and Garden Center out of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, designed and developed a resort-style outdoor space that is striking in its beauty and engaging in its varied features and amenities.
Meadowood Senior Living, Worcester, Pennsylvania, selected Design for Generations LLC, Medford, New Jersey, and Eric’s Nursery and Garden Center, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, to design and develop a new multipurpose garden courtyard.
For the elderly with memory loss, important benefits include decreased agitation and anxiety, better quality of sleep, and opportunities for social interaction, exercise and experiences that engage the senses.
When life hands you lemons – or boatloads of rain – it’s time to make lemonade. Given the psychological, emotional and physical benefits of therapeutic landscape gardens, it’s imperative to shift perspective. With a new plan to adapt to this year’s rainy reality the older adults in your care can continue to reap the benefits of your garden, rain notwithstanding.
For optimal health, humans are frequently told, “Listen to your body.” Apply this adage outward and listen to your plants to maximize their health and vibrancy. Robust, happy plants burst with health that radiate to your therapeutic landscape garden visitors, impacting the physical, emotional and spiritual sense of wellbeing of those visitors.
Summer budgets can be a bit tight for many people and organizations. Even with that reality, you can experience a garden of abundance this season. With a bit of planning you will, as the saying goes, reap what you sow.
Between Mother’s Day, Nurses’ Week and Teacher Appreciation Week, in May we celebrate nurturers and the act itself of nurturing.
Learn how to bring home the om. As interest in outdoor spaces that can help heal and satisfy physical, emotional, and spiritual needs expands, make sure you understand the mix of features that make up these restful, inspirational oases.
Leverage the coincidence that the reawakening of your garden occurs during the month in which Earth Day falls. Typically when we make decisions regarding our therapeutic landscape gardens we weigh the impact on the people we serve; we also have the unique opportunity to positively impact the environment, in a way that involves our core mission of providing support and engagement to those we provide care for. As you plan your spring garden, implement these three changes: Create a bee-friendly garden. Doing so attracts bees, which are crucial pollinators of up to one-third of the food that people eat. Plant flowering fruits (strawberries), flowering vegetables (tomatoes, zucchini) and single-petal flowers (Black-Eyed Susans or Queen Ann’s Lace) that make it easier for bees to feed. Keep dishes of water filled for our fuzzy friends to rehydrate, and plant ground cover (coleus) in which they can rest in between feedings. Avoid pesticides which kill these tiny pollinators. Begin to compost. Minimize the amount of waste you send to landfills by setting aside and repurposing organic matter. This also reduces your contribution to global warming, as organic material placed in landfills is deprived of oxygen to break down, and instead creates methane gas. Making nutrient-rich soil conditioner from your kitchen and garden scraps will enhance your soil, strengthening your plants, and is simple to start. Place easily accessible compost bins in your kitchens and gardens, to encourage their everyday use. We have found that covered containers that are emptied regularly are the best way to nudge a shift in culture toward the adoption of the practice of composting. Reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle, remove plastic. The Earth Day Network’s focus for 2018 is to change people’s attitudes and behaviors regarding use of plastic. Analyze every choice to use plastic when planning or maintaining your garden and make a conscious decision to reduce and refuse plastic when you can. When using plastic, educate older adults on today’s recycling practices. Even many seasoned recyclers are not aware that plastic mulch bags and plastic containers that hold flats of flowers are recyclable. Beginning to implement these three changes this month will help the environment, and also strengthen your gardeners’ and visitors’ feeling of community and sense of purpose and place in this world.
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