Enhancing wellbeing: integrating therapy into care home design

Sheena Cunnington, a nursing specialist who works closely with Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), explores twelve types of therapy, their benefits, and how they can be incorporated into environmental design and daily routine

Care homes provide essential care for older adults, often living with chronic conditions, cognitive impairments, and mobility limitations. As our ageing population grows, the care sector faces increasing pressure to offer care that goes beyond assistance with activities of daily living. I believe a key approach to meeting this challenge and improving quality of life for residents is to incorporate therapeutic approaches into the care environment. There is a wealth of evidence showing that various forms of therapy can address a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional needs, promoting overall wellbeing.

Physiotherapy focuses on helping residents recover from injury, improve mobility, and prevent further physical decline. Physiotherapists assess mobility, gait, balance, strength, flexibility, posture, pain, and overall physical function to improve movement and independence. They develop tailored programmes aimed at improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Common interventions include:

Along with physiotherapy, there are other movement-based therapies that are beneficial, especially for those with limited mobility or chronic conditions like arthritis. These include:

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.

Latest Issues

Care England Conference

Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, London
12th March 2026

Care Roadshows - Scotland

Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow
21st April 2026

Care Show London

ExCel, London
29 April 2026 - 30 April 2026

Care Roadshows - North West

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool
12th May 2026

Care Roadshows - Midlands

Villa Park Stadium, Birmingham
14th May 2025

Care Innovation Summit

Business Design Centre, London.
11th June 2026