Play and exercise areas for everyone
Getting enough exercise positively impacts a person’s physical and mental health. The right playground or exercise environment encourages people to move regularly, casually, and while enjoying it; this is especially important for healthcare facilities. All healthcare institutions can play a significant role in promoting exercise behaviour.
Everyone deserves the time and opportunity to play and exercise together
Having fun is important for us. When we experience pleasure, we feel safe and wanted. From joy, you push boundaries, and opportunities become more visible. This is especially important for individuals suffering or recovering from illness or injury.
Everyone deserves the time and opportunity to play and exercise together, gain confidence and make new friends. An accessible playground or an exercise area does not require complicated adjustments to the design that focus on the impairments. However, it requires a specific way of thinking to make moving, experiencing, and meeting accessible to young and old alike.
The power of Senior Sport exercise equipment is the casual way of moving
Elderly care
Many senior adults have limited exercise options due to their age and physical or cognitive disabilities. However, it is often the case that there is still a lot to gain from exercise.
The power of Senior Sport exercise equipment is the casual way of moving. At the same time, every exercise can be directly translated into better functioning in everyday daily. At Lappset, we design exercise areas that cater to specific physical capabilities and motivations – including people living with dementia. Our projects are regularly initiated by healthcare organisations, including physiotherapists, and implemented with the involvement of local councils.
Children with special care requirements
Special needs children are often forgotten in playground design. Most inclusive playgrounds are usually only focused on one disability or are not exciting and challenging enough to engage all children.
By making a minor adjustment to ‘normal’ playground equipment, people with disabilities can also play along without any adjustment being noticeable from the outside. Playground equipment can provide extra support and grip or include a play route that is low on the ground for children in wheelchairs or with motor disabilities. Colour markings or contrasts help guide children with visual impairments. Rest zones with benches and pergolas in and next to the play equipment help children with attention deficits process experiences or ease tension after playing.
By making a minor adjustment to playground equipment, people with disabilities can also play along without the adjustment on the outside being noticeable.
Children`s hospital Wilhelmina in The Netherlands has an exercise area on the roof
Rehabilitation and recovery with interactive play sets
Playing and exercising are nice ways of setting worries aside and contributing to your fitness and health. By using smart technology in playground equipment, you make playing and rehabilitation more fun and challenging, and the results are also measurable. This motivates rehabilitation in hospitals and other care facilities and encourages competition, especially among children.
Exercise also ensures seniors do not lose muscle mass during an extended hospital stay, contributing to a good day and night rhythm. An exercise area is often a perfect complement to the training equipment available in indoor areas. Devices then become part of therapy in the physiotherapy/occupational therapy department.
Inclusive outdoor furniture
When designing healthy environments, simple things make moving easier and encourage people to go and play and have just a bit of fresh air.
Simple design choices can make a big difference in encouraging people to get moving and enjoy the outdoors. For example, higher benches provide a comfortable resting spot for those who need it. At the same time, picnic tables with extended tabletops offer wheelchair users a relaxing place to sit. And don’t forget the little things – adding accessories such as litter bins can significantly improve the usability of playgrounds and exercise areas.
Park Place Senior bench has two hand rests, and the sitting position is straighter than the basic model, assisting older people in sitting down and getting up easier.