Outdoor Environments at Three Nursing Homes: Focus Group Interviews with Staff

This study investigated how the outdoor environments at nursing homes for older persons were experienced and used to gain knowledge with implications for design. Focus group methodology was used to explore staff's view of how the residents experienced and used the outdoors. Two main themes and ten sub-themes were the result when the focus group interviews were analyzed. Theme one, being comfortable in the outdoor environment, describe the residents' special needs to be able to and dare to use the outdoors. The theme suggests a precautionary design, which promotes security and safety and protects from disturbance and negative impressions. The second main theme, access to surrounding life, describes the residents' needs for change and variety in the everyday situation and suggests an inspiring design, which promotes stimulation of senses and mind and provides positive impressions. (C) 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.