How to Reap the Restorative Benefits of Nature in Senior Living Communities

By Dr. Sarah Guariglia OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

As of 2019, there were more than 6 million Americans living with dementia. By 2050, this number is expected to increase to 16 million. The number of older adults being diagnosed with dementia is rapidly increasing, and they are living much longer than ever before.

At present, the average older adult is on 14 prescribed medications. And more than one-third of those medications can cause side effects that exacerbate symptoms of underlying geriatric conditions. Agitation, aggression, and resistance to care are the three symptoms that are most commonly exhibited through the progression of dementia. Keene, Hope, Fairburn, et al., (1999) found that up to 96 percent of adults with dementia will exhibit agitated, aggressive, and other negative dementia-related behaviors over the course of their illness.

Nature as an Alternative Intervention for Dementia

With the prevalence of dementia rapidly increasing, innovative interventions are becoming more utilized as primary strategy to address challenging dementia-related behaviors, before pharmaceuticals. Engaging in nature is a universally accessible intervention that can help decrease or prevent dementia-related behaviors. The use of nature as a restorative and calming tool is based upon the theory of attention restoration.

The Attention Restoration Theory proposed that exposure to nature can restore our ability to concentrate through the principle of indirect attention. Kaplan theorizes that the capacity for attention and cognitive functioning is affected early on with dementia. And that nature can help restore these symptoms. Using nature as a therapeutic tool is a cost-effective, easily accessible, and impactful means to increase self-esteem, mood, verbal expression, and social interaction. Older adults can reap the restorative benefits of nature with both passive and active interactions by being able to view nature, be nearby nature, or actively engage with nature. In a senior living community, integrating nature into a daily routine can be a useful way to foster engagement and social participation in older adults with dementia.

Additionally, the outdoors provides a multi-sensory experience that stimulates the senses and balance. For example, take the activity of planting flowers in an elevated garden bed.  A resident can challenge their balance by standing on uneven ground or grass while reaching outside their base of support to dig holes and plant flowers. This simple activity can provide the opportunity for dynamic movements and multi-sensory stimuli.

Overcoming Barriers to Getting Outside

How Senior Living Communities can Access Nature Despite Existing Obstacles

Depending on your geography or physical environment, there can be significant barriers to getting older adults outside. For those living in the north, cold weather is often the most difficult challenge to being able to get older adults outside safely. During warmer months, ensuring residents are comfortable is vital to making the outdoors enjoyable.  But keep in mind, that bringing nature indoors can have similar effects as getting outside.

Plants, aquariums, aromatherapy, and scenic soundtracks can still provide similar benefits as being in nature. And as always, ensuring your senior living community outdoor space is easily accessible and safe to residents can help increase their engagement with nature.  Using nature soundtracks, aromatherapy, and nature videos can be simple ways to bring the outdoors in.  Plants and flowers can help bring the aroma and color of the outdoors while watering and caring for them can be a meaningful way to engage residents. Aquariums displayed in dining rooms have been supported by research to increase food intake by up to 21% in one study.  Incorporating different natural elements into indoor living spaces can still provide similar olfactory, visual, auditory sensory stimuli as being outdoors.

Nature is for Everyone

Getting older adults out into nature is a cost-effective activity that has considerable and meaningful impacts on wellness and quality of life. Active or passive engagement in nature can result in improved social interactions and verbal expressions, which can be invaluable to loved ones.

Just as FOX Rehab believes no one is too old to exercise, no one is too old to get outside or enjoy nature indoors.