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Ensuring Outdoor Stays for Older Adults in Residential Care Facilities Through Governance and Policy – A Position Paper

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Despite well-documented health benefits, outdoor stays remain limited for older adults living in residential care facilities (RCFs) across Europe. This position paper compares governance, policy, and research in the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, identifying key barriers, particularly for persons experiencing physical or cognitive decline. Drawing on three theoretical models, the paper highlights a persistent gap between evidence and practice, and calls for the establishment of legal rights, national strategies, and international guidelines to ensure equitable access to outdoor stays. Contact with nature and outdoor stays should be recognized not as optional amenities, but as fundamental human needs in later life.

Source: Journal of Aging and Environment

DOI: 10.1080/26892618.2026.2684449

Authors: Madeleine Liljegren, Melanie van der Velde – van Buuringen, Erja Rappe, Monique A. A. Caljouw, Susanna Nordin

Institutions: Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Leiden University Medical Center, University of Helsinki, Age Institute, Dalarna University

Language: English

Topic: Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W7165147686

FWCI:

Cites: 23

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