Force Of Nature – How Natural Materials Help.

Why nature connections matter.

Many aged care providers are now going beyond the occasional bush walk and in-house recycling scheme to provide outdoor connections for their residents and patients. So too is every purchase being carefully assessed to limit the impact on the environment, and new ways of connecting with nature are being introduced.

An aged care facility is by necessity often a sterile environment, the clean and practical nature of design and product use seen as mandatory in keeping residents and patients healthy and safe. There are however many ways to introduce natural connections into the lives of residents.

Spending time in nature is said to do wonders for wellbeing, reducing anxiety and staving off depression. It also has a positive effect on our physical health. Whether it’s through natural products in the rooms or by means of fresh air and garden views, a little greenery can go a long way in making a difference to people’s lives.

Additionally, creating awareness of the efforts your facility makes in helping the environment, and involving residents in these initiatives where possible, can help them feel part of a greater good. Recycling schemes, natural choices throughout the facility and tree planting can helps achieve this while also reducing the environmental footprint of your facility.

Within the room

Bathroom products

When it comes to choosing skincare products and soaps for residents, natural derivatives are often the best answer. Before the advent of synthetic substances for skincare, plants were the main source of all cosmetics, be it the healing properties of Aloe Vera or the calming properties of lavender.

While some residents may require medical skincare, often great results can be achieved through natural solutions – and the scent of these products can also help to make bathing a more pleasant and relaxing experience.

Air quality

It is an unavoidable fact that many residents of aged care facilities spend a good deal of time indoors, whether due to disabilities or a simple need to stay warm and dry. For this reason, the quality of air inside the rooms is important. If possible, air quality can be designed into the home from the outset by choosing building materials that don’t release toxins over time.

Fresh air should also be allowed to flow through the facility, to allow in natural scents and provide natural ventilation and cooling when possible. Poor air quality has been linked to many health problems, such as asthma and allergies. This can be prevented with the use of air filters and indoor planting.

Surface materials

The use of natural materials in our interior environments is also said to have a positive effect on mental health. A report by University of British Columbia

and FPInnovations, ‘Wood and Human Health’, found that “visual wood surfaces in a room lowered sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation”. Quite simply, in non-scientific terms, wood surfaces made people calmer.

Another study carried out in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital between 1972 and 1981 studied the recovery of 23 surgical patients who were assigned rooms overlooking a natural view. When compared with 23 equivalent patients who looked out onto a brick wall, those with the green outlook had shorter post-operative stays and took fewer analgesics for their pain.

In some facilities it may not always be possible to have a view of nature from every room. However indoor plants throughout the home can help introduce a natural touch to interior spaces – and the atmosphere can be enhanced further with the use of natural materials, artworks and photography.

Recycling

Long before plastic bottles clogged the oceans, older generations were putting out their glass milk bottles to be reused and refilled. Recycling and waste reduction was second nature.

For aged care residents, making efforts to use recycled products and to foster good recycling efforts in-house, is seen as a way to help pass down a better Earth to the next generation.

Some ways we can help with this is through Caresoft toilet paper, which is made from recycled paper, and through the Dreamticket range of bedding, which is created from recycled plastic bottles. We also have Weavers eco slippers in stock, a safe and sturdy slipper that is 100% biodegradable. For in-room waste, our stainless steel dual compartment bins make separation of recycling easy.

Outside the building

As well as allowing natural air, letting in natural sunlight boosts mental health by increasing serotonin in the brain, which is the chemical that makes you feel happy. Sunlight will stave off anxiety and depression and, as it provides the all-important vitamin D, it is also important for physical health

Natural light also lowers the environmental footprint of a building as it can reduce the need for heating. Often, architects will design a concrete floor or well-placed wall inside a building to soak up the heat of the sun during the day. In this way the ambient heat can be slowly released during the night, lowering the need for artificial heating.

Throwing open curtains and windows also provides a connection with birdlife for residents. The movement and sounds of birds moving around outside can create a true sense of happiness in residents.

Similarly, planting both indoors and out will add beauty and colour to residents’ lives. Landscaped gardens are nearly as important for aged care facility residents as the quality of their rooms, as they may often be the only natural setting they are able to see.

The different scents and colours from a variety of planting will make this a feature that continues to give throughout the seasons.

Some residents may also like to contribute to gardens, and many will have years of experience with well-seasoned green thumbs to offer. This will be a great way of creating a sense of worth and achievement, as well as reducing boredom and depression in those who are able bodied enough to help.

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Engaging patients and empowering residents to do more to connect with nature will help them get the most from their daily lives.

Whether it is assisting with environmental steps such as recycling or planting a vegetable garden that can be used by the kitchen for resident meals, it is important they feel that they have something to contribute.

For those running these facilities, small changes can make a big difference. Whether it’s swapping out synthetic smells in the bathroom or switching to wooden tables in the dining area, there are many ways to help patients and residents get their nature fix.

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