Creating hazard-free outdoor environments for senior living residents — accessibility, fall prevention, and therapeutic landscape design considerations.
Senior living communities require landscape maintenance with heightened safety awareness. Critical considerations include: ADA-compliant pathway maintenance (no root heave, proper drainage, even surfaces), low-trip-risk plant selection along walkways, adequate lighting along all pedestrian routes, handrail and grab-bar area clearance, non-toxic plant material selection, and therapeutic garden accessibility. Grounds crews should be trained to identify and immediately flag fall hazards. Many senior living operators require contractors to carry specialized insurance riders and complete facility-specific safety orientations before working on campus.