Sensory gardens are widely recognised as strategic investments that enhance resident wellbeing, support regulatory compliance, and strengthen a care home’s reputation in a highly competitive market. Senior care home management professionals attending the Care Forum are increasingly realising that a thoughtfully designed sensory garden can deliver tangible returns across multiple areas: resident satisfaction, occupancy rates, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) outcomes…
The link between outdoor space and resident wellbeing is well established. For older adults, and particularly for people living with dementia or mobility challenges, access to nature stimulates the senses, reduces stress, promotes physical activity, and boosts emotional wellbeing. Sensory gardens, with their carefully selected plants, textures, scents, sounds, and safe walkways, provide structured environments that encourage gentle exercise, social interaction, and therapeutic engagement.
From an operational standpoint, resident wellbeing directly influences occupancy rates. Families selecting a care home today are looking for more than just clinical care—they expect holistic support that prioritises quality of life. A well-maintained sensory garden signals a commitment to resident-centred care, offering families reassurance that their loved ones will have access to meaningful outdoor activities and opportunities for relaxation and rehabilitation. In a crowded market, homes that invest in sensory spaces often find it easier to attract new residents and maintain high occupancy levels.
The impact of sensory gardens extends to regulatory outcomes as well. Under the CQC’s inspection framework, environment and resident wellbeing are integral to the assessment of services. A sensory garden can help demonstrate a provider’s commitment to the ‘Caring’ and ‘Responsive’ key lines of enquiry.
Inspectors increasingly view access to safe, stimulating outdoor spaces as an indicator of good practice—particularly for dementia care and person-centred activity planning. Homes that can showcase how sensory gardens are incorporated into daily life, through guided walks, gardening therapy sessions, or relaxation activities, often see stronger inspection results.
Inn addition, sensory gardens offer benefits in staff engagement and retention. Outdoor spaces can be used for staff wellbeing breaks, training sessions, and activity planning, supporting a positive working environment that helps to reduce burnout—a key challenge in the sector.
Importantly, the return on investment in a sensory garden need not be cost-prohibitive. Modular designs, phased planting programmes, and partnerships with horticultural charities or community groups can make development and maintenance manageable even for smaller homes.
In short, investing in a sensory garden is an investment in resident health, commercial success, and regulatory excellence—a powerful combination that will only grow in importance as expectations around holistic, quality care continue to rise.
Are you searching for Sensory Garden solutions for your organisation? The Care Forum can help!
Photo by Khrystyna Khristianova on Unsplash
