Outdoor environments at three nursing homes-qualitative interviews with residents and next of kin

The present study aimed at describing older persons’ experiences of outdoor environments at nursing homes in Sweden in terms of what factors are important and in what way they are important. Twelve residents and seven next of kin from three nursing homes participated in 16 interviews. Two main themes were identified. The first theme, access to nature and surrounding life, describes the outdoor environment as a means for change and as promoting a feeling of freedom. This theme calls for an inspiring design. The second theme, being comfortable in the outdoor environment, describes how important it is that going outdoors can be something easy and natural, and it calls for a comfortable design. The results are intended to facilitate practical knowledge that is useful to planners, decision-makers and care workers striving to create attractive and useable environments that are part of the daily life of nursing home residents. The themes also exemplify how the outdoor environment at nursing homes can serve as a resource in promoting restoration, a feeling of being at home and positive development late in life.