{"id":12666,"date":"2020-09-23T12:41:26","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T11:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=12666"},"modified":"2025-06-23T09:33:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T08:33:52","slug":"hard-landscaping-design-for-care-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/hard-landscaping-design-for-care-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard Landscaping Design for Care Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The therapeutic benefits of a safe, attractive and carefully planned external living environment are well recognised. Access and proximity to external space in a Care Home setting will enable residents to maintain an active lifestyle which supports their physical and emotional wellbeing. Well designed and secure areas for walking and wheelchairs should provide opportunities for exercise and relaxation outdoors.<\/p>\n

Inclusive Design for Care Home Residents, Staff and Visitors<\/h2>\n

Care Homes should be designed to be \u2018enabling\u2019 in terms of the likely impairments which residents may experience with increasing age and frailty. Many Care Home residents experience decreased sensory acuity. Their senses of hearing, vision, taste, smell and touch may have deteriorated over time which impacts the information they perceive from their environment. As it is may be difficult for some residents to notice details, hard landscaping design should be clear, straightforward and easy to distinguish.<\/p>\n

We recommend designing hard landscaping with the end-users in mind, maximising accessibility and inclusivity for staff, visitors and residents. It is still possible to create beautiful hard landscaping designs which are familiar and not confusing for the end-users.<\/p>\n

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Choosing Colours to Minimise Confusion<\/h2>\n

Care must be taken when selecting colours and materials for hard landscaping. We recognise that certain combinations of colours and patterns can be problematic for some groups of people. Changes in colour and or tone in paving may appear as a step or barrier to a resident with dementia and deter some residents from entering a space or even lead to a fall. Strong patterns such as visible joints in paving or changes in block colour need to be avoided as they present a barrier to movement. Avoid \u2018visual clutter\u2019 by opting for plain colour schemes with no confusing patterns. The team at Tobermore can assist with a suitable selection of landscaping for Care Homes.<\/p>\n

Meaningful Contrast to help with Hazard Identification<\/h2>\n

Ensure clear contrasts are used for clarity where the walls and floors meet and on edges, obstacles, street furniture, steps and changes in level. Strong contrasts in surfacing need to be avoided as end-users may interpret it as a change in level or a hole.<\/p>\n

It is best to avoid large patterns in paving which can look dirty or uneven to some residents.<\/p>\n

Minimising Glare and Reflection for Sensitive Eyes<\/h2>\n

Certain people with dementia are sensitive to bright light and glare from shiny surfaces. Hard landscaping which is highly reflective may appear to be wet and slippy. Therefore, paving materials which minimise glare and reflection should be selected.<\/p>\n

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Why Specify Artro for Care Homes?<\/h2>\n

Artro brings a classic style to residential projects in private, social or shared accommodation schemes. Ideally suited to care home applications, Artro is non-reflective and anti-glare which is an important consideration when end users may have visual impairments.<\/p>\n

Perfect for paving a grand entrance, an intimate courtyard or a meandering pathway. Artro is designed to perform flawlessly with the demands of frequent vehicular traffic. People with limited mobility can often be deterred from hard landscaping which appears to be slippy. Artro boasts a very low slip\/skid risk rating which is essential for care home end users.<\/p>\n