Today's healing gardens: More than shrubs and flowers

Recent research in healthcare design has identified an important positive link between the well-being of people in residential healthcare settings and exposure to nature. Residents with access to outdoor environments are more aware of their surroundings and of time of day and seasonal changes, are more engaged in activities, and benefit from fresh air, exercise, and sunlight. The perimeter landscape defines the overall boundaries of the project as they relate to the surrounding neighborhood, anchors structures to the property, and creates a sense of environmental closure for residents. Building-edge garden beds with small trees, shrubs, and flowering plants soften the transition from the landscape to the building and provide focal points at windows, as well as improve the view from residents' rooms overlooking the parking lot. Overall, the landscape design must balance the goal of providing a comfortable home environment that enhances residents' quality of life but includes practical consideration of implementation and maintenance costs.