How Indoor Plants Shape Satisfaction in Aged Care Homes

The 1st National Elderly Welfare Facility Conference and Research Meeting in Tochigi, known as JS Festival in Tochigi, brought together aged-care practitioners, facility managers, researchers and suppliers from across Japan. Its programme combined research presentations, practical workshops, networking, study tours and an exhibition of products designed for everyday care environments. Learn more about Contact.

One research theme with lasting relevance was the effect of indoor plants on resident satisfaction scores. The subject sits at the intersection of environmental psychology, dementia-friendly design, occupational therapy and residential aged care. A plant may appear to be a small decorative feature, yet it can influence how residents perceive comfort, identity, activity and belonging.

For Australian providers, this discussion is particularly timely. Homes in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional communities are seeking ways to feel less institutional while meeting demanding requirements for infection prevention, safety, maintenance and accessibility. Indoor greenery offers a relatively modest design intervention, provided it is selected and managed with care.

What the research spotlight examined

The JS Festival research focus considered whether visible greenery could change residents’ evaluations of their living environment. Satisfaction scores may cover comfort, atmosphere, homeliness, enjoyment of shared spaces and willingness to spend time in communal areas. These measures are valuable because they capture the lived experience behind operational indicators such as attendance at activities or meal participation.

Indoor plants can contribute through several pathways. They introduce colour and organic shapes into corridors, dining rooms and lounges. Their presence may soften hard architectural lines and help a setting feel more like a home than a clinical facility. Caring for herbs or observing new leaves can also create a small daily rhythm, particularly for residents who have limited access to outdoor gardens.

The strongest interpretation is not that every plant automatically improves wellbeing. Rather, planting appears most useful when it supports a wider person-centred environment. Residents may respond positively when greenery is placed at eye level, connected to familiar routines and included in conversations about personal choice.

Why greenery may improve resident experience

Natural elements can support attention restoration and emotional regulation. A resident waiting in a reception area may find a living plant more engaging than a blank wall, while a cluster of herbs in a dining space may prompt memories of cooking, gardening or family meals. These moments can improve perceived warmth even when they do not produce a measurable clinical outcome.

Plants may also strengthen social interaction. Staff can use watering, pruning or seasonal change as conversation prompts, and families may bring culturally familiar plants during visits. In Australia, a small herb planter might evoke a Mediterranean kitchen in Melbourne, a tropical garden in Brisbane or a backyard tradition in Adelaide. The value lies in the personal meaning attached to the plant, rather than its price or visual novelty.

Placement matters just as much as species. A plant blocking a handrail, narrowing a wheelchair route or shedding leaves near food service can create frustration. A well-positioned planter beside a lounge chair, near a sunny window or within a courtyard view has a better chance of adding pleasure without adding avoidable risk.

Measuring satisfaction beyond a single score

A credible evaluation should compare resident feedback before and after plants are introduced, while tracking the experience of a similar area without new greenery where possible. Researchers can combine short satisfaction questionnaires with interviews, observation and staff reports. Repeated measures are important because an initial novelty effect may fade after several weeks.

Useful questions might address whether a space feels welcoming, calm, familiar and enjoyable. Residents can also be asked whether plants encourage them to sit in a shared area, join an activity or talk with others. People living with dementia may communicate preferences through behaviour, facial expression and engagement, so standard numerical ratings should not be treated as the only evidence.

The research design should record practical variables as well. Light levels, temperature, watering routines, plant condition and location can affect perceptions. A tired or dusty plant may reduce satisfaction, while a healthy display supported by consistent care can become part of the facility’s identity. Staff workload and resident participation should be measured because maintenance can influence the overall result.

Applying the findings in Australian facilities

Australian aged-care operators face a distinctive mix of climate, building and regulatory considerations. In Darwin or northern Queensland, humidity and intense heat can affect plant health, while facilities in Canberra may need to manage dry indoor air during winter. Bushfire smoke, pollen sensitivity and seasonal allergies also make ventilation and plant selection relevant to the resident population.

Local species can offer a meaningful sense of place, although native plants are not automatically suitable indoors. A low-allergen, non-toxic variety with manageable root systems may be more appropriate than a plant chosen solely for its Australian origin. Providers should consult horticultural specialists and occupational health teams before introducing greenery to rooms used by residents with allergies, swallowing risks or complex clinical needs.

The local market also supports a broader environmental approach. In large cities such as Sydney and Perth, facilities may combine indoor planting with balconies, shaded courtyards and views of landscaped streets. In smaller regional towns, residents may value familiar edible plants, community gardening partnerships or displays that reflect local agricultural traditions. The design should match the community rather than reproduce a generic hotel-style interior.

Linking plants with safety and daily operations

Resident satisfaction depends on the complete environment. Flooring, lighting, furniture and planting need to work together so that a warmer atmosphere does not create mobility hazards. Areas exposed to water from plant care, cleaning or nearby bathrooms require particular attention; guidance on non-slip flooring solutions can help connect aesthetic improvements with safer facility design.

Planters should be stable, easy to clean and positioned outside evacuation routes. Staff need a clear schedule for watering, removing dead leaves and checking for pests. Lightweight containers can reduce manual-handling risks, while self-watering systems may lower workload if they are inspected regularly. Artificial plants can be considered where live specimens are unsuitable, although they will not provide the sensory changes or care opportunities associated with living greenery.

Food and hospitality spaces require an especially thoughtful approach. Herbs can support cooking activities and stimulate conversation, while colourful table displays may make meals feel more social. The broader sensory atmosphere can include small touches from local food culture; a product such as Chili Chillin may fit a resident-led tasting or dining conversation when dietary and clinical requirements allow. Such additions should support choice, not turn the dining room into a themed commercial display.

From conference findings to meaningful practice

The JS Festival model is valuable because it connects research with practical demonstrations and supplier knowledge. A study tour can show how plants function in real corridors and lounges, while workshops can explore maintenance, resident participation and environmental safety. This bridge between evidence and implementation is essential for aged-care managers making decisions with limited budgets.

A pilot project might begin with one lounge, involve residents in choosing suitable plants and measure feedback over three months. Teams can record satisfaction, time spent in the area, social interaction and maintenance demands. Comparing those observations with a similar unmodified space can provide a more useful picture than relying on general impressions.

The research spotlight ultimately points to a simple principle: indoor greenery works best when it is treated as part of care design rather than decoration. Plants can support dignity, familiarity and connection, but their contribution depends on thoughtful placement, resident choice, reliable upkeep and safe surroundings. That combination gives satisfaction scores a clearer relationship with everyday life in the facility.