Designing Outdoor Spaces that Enhance Resident Wellness

Outdoor spaces offer more than just aesthetic value for senior care communities. When thoughtfully designed, they actively support physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. For communities planning new construction or renovating existing campuses, outdoor environments deserve the same strategic attention as interiors.

Read on to discover how intentional design decisions can transform outdoor spaces into powerful tools for supporting resident health, connection, and quality of life.

Why Outdoor Spaces Matter

Kona Gray, principal at EDSA

Access to the outdoors creates daily opportunities for natural movement. Activities such as walking, gardening, sitting in the sun, and gathering with others all encourage gentle physical activity that keeps residents engaged and mobile.

Kona Gray, principal at EDSA, points to research on Blue Zones—regions where people live longer, healthier lives—with strong evidence suggesting that regular time outside, a sense of purpose, social connection, and simple routines all contribute to longevity. “I see this firsthand with my dad,” Gray explains. “Him being outdoors, walking, and engaging with friends and community keeps him mentally sharp, emotionally fulfilled, and physically active. Access to nature isn’t a luxury. It’s essential to well-being.”

Designers increasingly treat outdoor areas as an extension of care delivery. Greg Pattison, senior architect at Parkin Architects, sees shared exterior spaces as part of the care model itself, rather than simply decorative. “We’ve seen how isolation in long-term care harms health, so we deliberately design threshold and courtyard-type spaces where residents can still see and visit with family even during lockdowns, to reduce loneliness and preserve relationships,” he explains.

That philosophy extends to communities that support residents with mental health needs. “In our work on facilities with strong mental-health components, giving people safe access to outdoors, natural light, and a central spiritual or cultural space clearly supports reflection, emotional stability, and a sense that the environment is healing rather than punitive,” says Pattinson, “and that logic absolutely carries over to seniors.”

Designing for Safety, Comfort, and Use

Greg Pattison, senior architect at Parkin Architects

Successful outdoor spaces begin with accessibility. It is not a feature to layer on later, but rather the framework. “We treat accessibility as a starting constraint,” explains Pattison, “the same way we do in our new office and hospital work, where we explicitly design ‘with accessibility standards’ rather than retrofitting later.”

In practical terms, that means clear, easy-to-read walking routes and surfaces that support wheelchairs and walkers. Layouts should account for heat exposure and climate risks, especially given how vulnerable older adults are during extreme weather. Circulation paths and gathering areas need reliable shade and cooling strategies built in from the start.

Gray recommends smooth, continuous walking paths with gentle slopes, sturdy handholds, and frequent resting spots. Seating should not feel random. It should frame views of water, gardens, or social activity so residents have something meaningful to experience.

Common Oversights in Outdoor Senior Care Spaces

Despite good intentions, some communities still treat climate responsiveness and cultural fit as secondary concerns. Research consistently shows that older adults face higher risks during heat events, yet many outdoor areas lack shade structures, cool materials, or microclimate planning. When that happens, residents retreat indoors precisely when access to fresh air would benefit them most.

Wayfinding is another frequent blind spot. Low-contrast signage, unclear sightlines, and confusing pathways can make spaces feel disorienting or even unsafe. Outdoor environments should reduce cognitive load, not add to it.

Scale also matters. “Spaces that feel too large, imposing, or institutional can negatively affect mental health,” Gray explains. “Designers, owners, and operators need to always remember how important it is for spaces to feel approachable, calm, and familiar rather than overwhelming.” Outdoor areas should feel intimate enough to invite use, yet open enough to encourage social connection.

Sensory Elements That Support Resident Wellness

The layered sensory experience of an outdoor environment plays a key role in resident wellness by helping create a setting that feels restorative. “Plants with fragrance, visual textures, and carefully chosen hardscape can be incredibly impactful,” says Gray.

Labeled trees and gardens can prompt memories and spark conversation. Gray encourages communities to choose plants that are resilient, culturally relevant, and easy to maintain.

Material selection also affects comfort and safety. “Low-glare finishes, matte materials, natural textures, and materials that aren’t hot to the touch all support comfort and safety,” says Gray.

Tactile materials that are pleasant to the touch help residents feel grounded and oriented. It’s also important to use materials to clearly signal changes in elevation, support depth perception, and provide slip resistance for enhanced resident safety.

Sound plays a role as well. Hearing laughter, conversation, and movement reinforces a sense of life and belonging for residents. “Everything should reinforce comfort, safety, and intuitive use, especially for aging eyes and bodies,” says Gray.

Where to Begin

Communities that want to enhance their outdoor spaces should start by understanding their residents. “Start with lived experience and health outcomes rather than the planting plan,” Pattinson suggests. “Ask how your residents experience loneliness, family access, culture, spirituality, and heat, and then treat fixes for those issues as the core brief for the outdoor redesign.”

Aesthetic upgrades alone will not create meaningful change. Emotional impact matters just as much as visual appeal. “Design for how people feel, not just how a space looks,” says Gray. “Successful spaces invite people to linger, socialize, and return. Outdoor environments should never feel intimidating, confusing, or uninviting. The goal is to create places people want to be in, not just pass through.”

When approaching outdoor spaces with that level of intention, they become more than courtyards or gardens. They become daily touchpoints for connection, movement, reflection, and joy.

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.