Green Spaces Can Have a Positive Impact on Health and Well-Being of Older Adults

Parks and outdoor environments worldwide have seen a recent increase in use. However, not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of parks and other public green spaces. However, older adults often have less than adequate access to green spaces. 

Access to both public and private green spaces has been limited in recent years due to the COVID-19 virus crisis. Senior living facilities, including long-term care facilities, either have limited access to green space due to the virus crisis or are not built near green areas. 

Older adults use green spaces for leisure, exercise, and recreational activities. Greater exposure to such natural environments has been shown to be associated with better health and well-being outcomes, including mental and physical health benefits through participation in physical and social activities.

Green Environments Promote Activity 

Pleasant, green community environments are increasingly recognized as influencing physical activity for their residents. According to a published study in the June 2018 issue of JAMDA, the official journal of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, neighborhoods with a higher percentage of green space are also associated with improved frailty status for older people.

The research found that the frailty status of participants living in neighborhoods with more than 34% green space at baseline was more likely to show improvement during follow-up. In addition, the association between green space and frailty risk was stronger among men than women.

Although green space may promote higher levels of physical activity and, in turn, better health, better well-being, and lower risk of frailty, other mechanisms such as reduced air pollution are likely to be pertinent.

Participation in activities in large green spaces can be difficult due to the lack of such places in the neighborhood, poor walkability, poor amenities, and insufficient transport links. 

COVID-19 Has Limited Access for Some Older Adults

Many older adults either live in areas lacking green space or in long-term care facilities that either lack green space or have limited their use because of the virus crisis. 

Professor Ester Cerin – Program Lead for the Behavior, Environment, and Cognition Research Program at the Australian Catholic University (ACU), member of the UNSW Aging Futures Institute and co-author of the publication – says careful planning and design of outdoor environments is required now more than ever.

COVID-19 has highlighted the current problems of access to green spaces for the most vulnerable in our communities, such as older people. Our population is aging. It is important that there is adequate investment now to enable accessible and safe outdoor spaces for all ages that encourage participation and engagement.

Access Outdoors Key to Quality Long-Term Health Care

For those receiving long-term health care at home, being outside can benefit the overall quality of life and health, assuming the individual lives in an area where they have access to outdoor green space. 

Caregivers should ensure they allow the care recipient to spend time outside, including taking them to a park or other area where they can enjoy nature. 

For families with older adults living in assisted living or other long-term care facilities, considering a facility with green space access should be a consideration. Despite COVID-19, facilities are finding ways to get residents to spend time outdoors safely.