Why Outdoor Time Matters at Austenwood

At Austenwood, we get residents outside whenever we can. Not as a treat or a special activity, but because it has a genuine impact on how the day unfolds. The TikTok clip below shows a few of our residents wrapped up warm in our local forest during a peaceful wintery morning in Gerrards Cross.

Getting outside of the home and enjoying some fresh air offers many benefits to our residents, including better mental well-being, fitness and social connection.

The change when residents leave the building can be immediate. Indoors, there’s always something happening with staff coming and going, televisions, doors opening and closing. But outside, residents become more alert, their posture loosens and they can start conversations more easily.

Outdoor Time Supports Calmer Evenings

Did you know that residents who spend time outside in the day are usually more settled in the evening? In fact, Austenwood care staff see fewer moments of confusion or agitation after spending time in natural light because it helps residents stay oriented to the time of day, which may sound small but makes a real difference to how they cope with everything else — especially if they have dementia.

Physical movement happens naturally outdoors without us having to organise anything. There’s plenty to see and do! We have seen residents walk over to look at a beautiful plant or move seats to follow the sun or just stand still in the fresh air for a few minutes instead of sitting. They keep their muscles engaged, which supports balance and gives residents more confidence moving around the home, and it can help prevent injury or speed recovery. Getting out into the garden makes it easy to get exercise because residents aren’t really thinking about it, they’re just responding to everything around them in a natural way, which takes the pressure off.

Conversations develop differently outside too, because there’s more going on.

For example, a resident will notice something, like the wind picking up, an interesting bird landing nearby or the sky changing colour, and a small remark usually becomes the start of longer, more meaningful conversations, strengthening connections between residents. It also gives carers a better insight of how each resident is feeling without having to dig for information.

A Daily Habit That Forms the Rest of the Day

This is why outdoor time is a big part of the routine at Austenwood. Because it’s an effortless way to create a calm atmosphere which really does keep residents grounded, giving everyone a chance to reset before winding down later on in the day.

This TikTok video shows just a few minutes of this, but getting outside, even for a short time, influences the rest of the day in the most positive way.