Prioritizing Play in Aging Services: Enhancing Outdoor Spaces Webinar
Thursday, April 10, 2025
1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST)

A webinar presentation in partnership with LeadingAge Pennsylvania

As maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important for residents of Life Plan Communities, outdoor spaces are taking on a central role. However, unpredictable weather patterns, evolving resident expectations, and limited design adaptability present significant challenges to creating outdoor areas that can be used year-round. Despite these hurdles, residents are eager to spend more time outdoors individually and in groups.

This session will explore strategic planning and design practices that address these challenges while fostering active lifestyles in Life Plan Communities. Through optimized solar angles, protective design features, and adaptable amenities, we’ll discuss how to extend the usability of outdoor spaces throughout the year. Attendees will learn from case studies, gain practical tips for implementation, and discover creative solutions for overcoming stormwater and environmental obstacles. Collaboration across disciplines—architecture, site civil engineering, and landscape design—is key to building outdoor spaces that promote wellness and lifelong enjoyment. As designers, we know outdoor spaces are essential for improving physical and mental health, fostering social connections, and enhancing emotional well-being. But making outdoor spaces accessible is not enough; we must create environments that are engaging, resilient, and adaptable to various weather conditions. This requires thoughtful planning and design to keep residents active and involved across all levels of care.

Successful outdoor spaces integrate not just entertaining features like fire pits and fountains but also functional, adaptable elements—intentional shade structures, accessible restrooms, and diverse seating that meets the varying needs of residents. Relaxation zones enhanced with sensory plantings can also provide critical recovery spaces. But the challenge remains: how do we create these spaces and ensure they stay inviting and usable, regardless of weather or season?

Target Audience:
NHAs, ED, Director of Facilities/Operations, Wellness & Activities Directors, CCRCs

Learning Objectives:
•  Evaluate key outdoor amenities and apply innovative design strategies to maximize year-round usability.
•  Analyze the health benefits of enhanced outdoor recreation for Life Plan Community residents.
•  Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop strategies for expanding and optimizing outdoor spaces within existing campus layouts.

Webinar Pricing
$99 for LeadingAge Connecticut Members
$175 for Non-LeadingAge Connecticut Members

Registration is a commitment to pay in full.

CEU Information:
• This Webinar Qualifies for Nursing Home Administrator Emergency Preparedness Requirements.
• This program has been submitted but not yet approved for Continuing Education for 1.0 total participation hours by NAB/NCERS.
• To receive continuing education credit for LeadingAge PA-sponsored webinars or LeadingAge CT, attendees must register under their name, participate through the link supplied after registering and complete the evaluation after the webinar.
• Registration is for ONE computer login access per webinar.
• Recordings of live sessions are included in webinar purchase.

Speaker Bios:
Amy Carpenter is a Principal in SFCS’s Philadelphia regional office. Recently named a “Design Champion” by Environments for Aging Magazine, Amy has over 30 years of experience with the past 25 years focused on senior living design. Amy's experience consists of a variety of types of projects with an emphasis on residential design. She has managed the planning and development process for renovations and expansions, new communities, and long-term-care and memory support projects. Her specialized code knowledge sets her apart from her peers and has supported her in service on building code committees such as the ICC Health Care Committee and the IBC General Code Committee for the 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 code cycles. Amy regularly presents to organizations such as Leading Age, Environments for Aging, Pioneer Network and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Eric Britz is a Senior Project Manager for Bohler’s Chalfont, Pennsylvania office, bringing over two decades of expertise in land development design, management, and consulting. In his role, he leads a team of six staff members and manages a diverse portfolio of projects, ranging from commercial and industrial developments to residential, senior living, multifamily, and mixed-use spaces. As an Account Manager for some of Bohler’s largest clients, Eric ensures successful project execution at every stage.

Questions? Contact LeadingAge Connecticut at (203) 678-4477 or [email protected].