Prioritizing Play in Aging Services: Enhancing Outdoor Spaces - Webinar

As maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important for residents of Life Plan Communities, outdoor spaces are taking on a central role. However, unpredictable weather patterns, evolving resident expectations, and limited design adaptability present significant challenges to creating outdoor areas that can be used year-round. Despite these hurdles, residents are eager to spend more time outdoors individually and in groups.

This session will explore strategic planning and design practices that address these challenges while fostering active lifestyles in Life Plan Communities. Through optimized solar angles, protective design features, and adaptable amenities, we’ll discuss how to extend the usability of outdoor spaces throughout the year. Attendees will learn from case studies, gain practical tips for implementation, and discover creative solutions for overcoming stormwater and environmental obstacles. Collaboration across disciplines—architecture, site civil engineering, and landscape design—is key to building outdoor spaces that promote wellness and lifelong enjoyment.

As designers, we know outdoor spaces are essential for improving physical and mental health, fostering social connections, and enhancing emotional well-being. But making outdoor spaces accessible is not enough; we must create environments that are engaging, resilient, and adaptable to various weather conditions. This requires thoughtful planning and design to keep residents active and involved across all levels of care.

Successful outdoor spaces integrate not just entertaining features like fire pits and fountains but also functional, adaptable elements—intentional shade structures, accessible restrooms, and diverse seating that meets the varying needs of residents. Relaxation zones enhanced with sensory plantings can also provide critical recovery spaces. But the challenge remains: how do we create these spaces and ensure they stay inviting and usable, regardless of weather or season?

This program has been submitted but not yet approved for Continuing Education for 1.0 total participation hours by NAB/NCERS.

To receive continuing education credit for LeadingAge PA-sponsored webinars, attendees must register under their name, participate through the link supplied after registering and complete the evaluation after the webinar.

We are pleased to offer this webinar at no charge to our members. Non-member rate is $80.