“With the introduction of the vision ‘Nature for You’, ’s Heeren Loo is taking an important step toward greening disability care. This vision serves as a guiding framework to strengthen and make optimal use of the valuable green spaces around client residences and daytime activity locations. The goal is to create a positive impact on the vitality of both clients and care staff — and on nature itself.”
’s Heeren Loo embraces the positive effects of greenery
– Newsreport from ’s Heeren Loo –
“As an organization, we embrace the (proven) positive effects that greenery and nature have on people’s health and well-being. By formulating clear principles together, we can make optimal use of the existing nature at our locations and know what to consider in new developments. Additionally, this offers opportunities to incorporate greenery more consciously in daytime activities and client treatments. And, of course, we hope this will make it even more appealing for clients and staff to spend time outdoors,” says Jan Peter Niezink, Sustainability Program Manager at ’s Heeren Loo.
The vision ‘Nature for You’ was developed in collaboration with Nature For Health (NFH), an organization with extensive experience in supporting the greening of healthcare organizations. Rob Wolters, director of NFH, says: “Together, we have created an inspiring and innovative vision. Implementing this vision directly contributes to the care function and the vitality of clients, healthcare staff, and nature in the residential care parks. I am very enthusiastic about the result! This vision can serve as an example for other care institutions in disability care and beyond.”
The vision will soon be translated into a management plan for each residential care park within ’s Heeren Loo. Niezink explains: “We have twelve residential care parks within ’s Heeren Loo, each with unique natural characteristics. By creating a tailored management plan based on a shared vision, nature can be showcased in the best possible way at each care park. This allows clients and staff to fully benefit from its advantages. Additionally, this contributes to increased biodiversity and a more comfortable living environment during extreme heat.”