Citation

Stoneham J, Jones R. Activ. Adapt. Aging 1997; 22(1): 17-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J016v22n01_03

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although it is well acknowledged that plants and gardens are often a source of great enjoyment to older people, little is known about how older people want to use the outdoors or about their preferences for different types of landscape. Current work at the Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly, UK, is looking at how well the grounds of purpose-built retirement housing are meeting the needs and preferences of residents. Questionnaire data, collected from approximately 100 sheltered housing residents, provide insights into the following issues: Importance of the grounds in retirement housing; use of the grounds and how this differs from what people did in their previous homes; values attached by residents to the landscape; interest in wildlife; and reasons why older people no longer garden.