Biophilic Design: Designing Senior Living to Promote Well-Being

You can bring the healing effects of nature inside your senior living community with biophilic design. Adding these elements can create positive effects that residents may otherwise be missing out on. Read below to find out why bringing natural elements indoor will benefit the seniors living in your facility. 

When was the last time you took a walk in the woods? The sound of your footsteps on the path, the sunlight peeking through the trees, a deep breath in the fresh oxygen-rich air can calm our anxieties and help us to relax.  Being connected to nature has been shown to reduce the physiological effects of stress. Just take the Japanese ‘art’ of Shinrin Yoku, or Forest Bathing for example.  Essentially, Forest Bathing is a simple walk within nature without screens or a camera and without an exercise goal.  It is connecting with nature through the five senses. Breathing in the fresh air, touching the bark of a tree and even laying down on the ground. Studies have shown that connecting to nature in this way has benefits such as improved mental coordination, reduction in stress and lower blood pressure.

Nursing home residents spend the vast majority of their time indoors where they can be exposed to indoor air pollutants for long periods of time. Given that many nursing home residents, especially those of advanced age, are more susceptible to the effects of air pollutants, even at low concentrations, this prolonged exposure may adversely affect their health and well-being. Not to mention, without having the ability to take a walk in the woods they may be missing out on some of the positive effects that being among nature can provide. So how can we bring the healing effects of nature indoors? That is where biophilic design comes in.

What is Biophilic Design?

In 1984, American naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson wrote the book Biophilia. In it, Wilson argued that natural environments were crucial to the health and well-being of all human beings. Biophilic design brings natural elements to indoor spaces and is defined as the practice of using nature, mimicking nature, and integrating biomorphic forms and patterns to enhance the experience indoors.  Some examples of biophilic design are indoor fountains or ponds, living walls like the ones here, skylights that allow natural light to come in, and plant filled spaces like the ones found here. Many healthcare facilities are incorporating biophilic design aspects.  Studies have shown that access to natural light throughout the day can help to regulate your circadian rhythm, possibly even helping you to feel more rested and less stressed out. Feeling less stress may even help to lower your blood pressure.

Why is Biophilic Design Important in Senior Living Facilities?

Globally, the number of older persons is growing faster than the number of people in all younger age groups. The demand for senior living facilities will soon be greater than it ever has been, and the design of senior living facilities is becoming more important. Below are some key reasons to focus on biophilic design within senior living communities.

• Residents Will be More Social

  Along with the physiological benefits, rooms that incorporate biophilic design elements may become the residents’ favorite place to hang out.  Having a general living space that makes your residents feel less stressed may encourage them to be more social as well.

• Improved Sense of Well-Being

  We have already discussed how Biophilic Design can reduce stress, improve mental coordination, and even lower blood pressure. Biophilic elements can also help to combat indoor pollutants to which older people can be more susceptible. While a single house plant may not make a huge dent in pollution, a green wall would almost certainly help.

• Comfort of the Residents

  When making a senior living facility feel like home, comfort is key.  Adding biophilic design elements such as natural light, plants or indoor fountains can make senior living facilities feel less sterile and more like home.

• Benefits for the Staff

  Studies have shown that people working in a space with biophilic design elements have a reduced level of stress and are more productive as well. Incorporating biophilic design elements into your facility can not only benefit staff and residents but can create environmentally friendly spaces that conserve water and energy and can help reduce the impact of our carbon footprint. Being more environmentally friendly can also help attract Gen Z employees who want the companies that they work for to demonstrate their commitment to a broader set of societal challenges such as sustainability, climate change, and hunger.

How Can You Incorporate Biophilic Design Elements into Your Senior Living Community?

There are several ways to begin to incorporate more biophilic design elements into the design of your senior living facility.  Here is a list of some of those ways.

• Increase Natural Light

  Open the shades or curtains during the day to allow for more natural light to flow into the space.

• Open the Windows

  As weather allows, let fresh air come in from outside.

• Add Plants

  Adding greenery is a great way to help residents feel more connected to nature.

• Just Add Water

  The sound of water can bring a sense of tranquility to an interior space. Install a small fountain on a countertop or outside near an open window to bask in the peaceful sound of water throughout the day.

• Living Wall

  Consider reaching out to someone who can create a living wall for your space or maybe even try to DIY it by following a how-to guide. Living walls are panels of plants that hang on structures that are either freestanding or attached to walls.

Conclusion

Connecting to nature indoors can improve the quality of life for residents in senior living facilities. Adding biophilic design elements can create positive effects that residents may otherwise be missing out on. Along with the physiological benefits, rooms that incorporate biophilic design aspects may become the residents’ favorite space. Adding design elements such as natural light, plants or indoor fountains can make senior living facilities feel less sterile and more like home adding to their overall experience and comfort.

Nina Weierman is a 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, freelance writer and mother. She also writes about running, parenting and travel. Read the other blog posts she has written for us here.