How to Find Care Home Gardens That Appeal to Gardeners

For many older people, gardening is not just a hobby but a way of life. Research has shown that gardening can provide numerous physical and mental health benefits, including:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing cholesterol levels
• Increasing bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis
• Enhancing mood and energy levels
• Reducing stress levels

For elderly individuals, gardening can also offer a sense of purpose and accomplishment. So, if you have a loved one who enjoys gardening but now requires the support of a care home, how can you find a care home that allows them to continue gardening?

Finding a Care Home with Gardening Facilities

We don't want to blow our own trumpet too hard, but obviously one excellent resource for this information is Autumna. Autumna is a comprehensive social care directory covering the entire UK. It lists residential care homes, nursing homes, dementia care homes, home care agencies, live-in care agencies, and operators of assisted living communities and retirement villages.

How to Search for Care Homes with Gardening Activities

To find care homes that offer gardening as an activity, visit the Autumna care home search page. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Go to the Autumna Search Page
2. Enter Your Preferred Location
3. Use Additional Filters: Under 'Activities' select 'Gardening'
4. Press 'Search'

This will provide you with a list of care homes where gardening is available as an activity.

Discovering the Type of Garden a Care Home Has

Autumna’s search filters also allow you to find specific garden features. Use the ‘Additional Filters’ section under ‘Garden’ to search for:

• Residential care homes with a greenhouse
• Dementia care homes with a secure garden
• Homes offering respite care with a vegetable plot
• Nursing homes with sensory gardens

By entering your location and selecting the desired garden features, you can easily find care homes that meet your loved one’s gardening needs. 

What if Your Loved One Can’t Garden but Loves Nature?

Even if your elderly relative is bedbound, viewing nature through windows can provide significant benefits, such as relaxation and restoration. To find care homes with scenic views:

1. Go to the Autumna Search Page
2. Enter Your Preferred Location
3. Select ‘Scenic View’ in the ‘Garden’ Section of Additional Filters
4. Press 'Search'

This will help you find care homes offering rooms with beautiful views, enhancing the well-being of your loved one.

How to Choose the Best Care Home with a Garden

Selecting the best care home is subjective and depends on individual needs. Consider factors like:

• Types of gardens (communal garden, private garden, sensory garden, etc.)
• Specific care services offered at the home (dementia care, palliative care)
• Additional preferences (pet-friendly policies, food quality)

Autumna also features OpenScore, a rating system developed with UK care associations, which incorporates regulatory ratings and other measures to give a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of care home performance.

Five of the Best Care Home Gardens

Using the new OpenScore care home review system and Autumna’s unique search filters, we’ve picked out five of the best care homes with gardens in the UK.

• Pine Martin Grange Wareham, Dorset.
• Whittington House Nursing Home Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• Alt-Na-Craig House Greenock, Scotland
• Kestrel Grove Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire
• Devonshire House & Lodge Woolwell, Plymouth

In addition to their own unique features, all of these care home gardens have wheelchair access allowing residents to explore, plus plenty of shady areas for relaxation if the sun is out.

Pine Martin Grange

Party of the Dormy Care Communities group, this luxurious residential, nursing and dementia care home in Wareham, Dorset has landscaped gardens which have been made safe for residents to explore.

Raised flower beds and potting sheds encourage the keen gardeners amongst the residents to continue to do the things they have always loved. And on summers’ days they can sit on the shady patios for some alfresco dining.

Whittington House Nursing Home

Part of the Caring Homes Group, Whittington House Nursing Home, is a highly rated residential, nursing and dementia home set in its own private woodland in Cheltenham.

Surrounded by trees, the home’s spacious gardens are a haven for wildlife where birds can regularly be seen flitting between the trees and the bird feeders dotted between the patios.

When the weather is fine, the attractive sensory gardens offer a tranquil and welcoming retreat for residents.

Alt-Na-Craig House

Alt-Na-Craig House is a purpose-built residential, dementia and nursing home in Greenock, Scotland.

The spacious landscaped gardens with raised planters offer an idyllic, tranquil retreat for residents and their loved ones.

Residents with a passion for gardening are invited to tend the flower beds, dig over the vegetable patches, and ensure the bird tables are maintained and stocked with food. 

Everyone can enjoy the benefits of the gardens at Alt-Na-Craig, no matter the weather or the season.

Kestrel Grove

Kestrel Grove is a residential, nursing and dementia home set in five acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire.

At the bottom of the main lawn is an ornamental pond for residents and visitors to enjoy. Also on site are stables and a paddock area with grazing horses.

On the front lawn there’s a purpose-built BBQ that can be used by residents and their families for private entertainment during the summer months. The gardens are available to all residents without restriction with disabled access to all areas.

Devonshire House & Lodge

Devonshire House & Lodge Care Home in Woolwell, Plymouth, is a 77-bedroom residential and nursing home providing support for people with dementia.

Run by Harbour Healthcare, it’s the perfect home for those who really enjoy the outdoors. For example, there’s a sensory garden, a greenhouse, a pond, a summerhouse, any number of outdoor exercise machines and a vegetable plot.

Why Choose Autumna to Find Care Homes?

Unlike other directories, Autumna does not take referral fees from care providers. Their independent, flat-fee subscription model ensures impartiality and trust, making it a preferred choice for families and healthcare professionals.

The simplest way to find the best care home for your loved one’s needs is to use Autumna’s shortlisting tool. 

However, if you need further help, we also offer an advice line which is open seven days a week at 01892 33 53 30. Friendly staff provide free, no-nonsense answers to help you find the right care home, home care, and assisted living options.

Comprehensive Directory of Care Homes

Finding the right care home for a gardening enthusiast is crucial for their well-being. Use Autumna’s comprehensive search tools and filters to find care homes that offer gardening activities or beautiful garden views, ensuring your loved one continues to enjoy their passion for gardening for as long as they want.