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Writer's pictureMonica Eastway

Care Outdoors: Nurturing Wellbeing for Carers and Nature

Updated: Jul 19, 2023


Greetings All!

Family Caregivers, CNAs, Care Partners, Executive Directors, Home Health Care Professionals, Physicians, Occupational and Recreational Therapists, Social Workers, Activity Directors, Nurses, Individuals of All Ages =


There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.― Rosalyn Carter

=

Carers: Paid and non-paid.

Carer implies a more reciprocal relationship is possible.


Do you feel caring for your health and wellbeing and Nature's health and wellbeing is

a form of care for those you care with?


Many carers struggle with finding time for self-care, but what if I told you that it could be as simple as sharing care outdoors?


Care Outdoors can improve psychological, physiological, social, and environmental health SIMULATANEOUSLY!


The Endless Benefits of The Nature Experience

The "biophilia hypothesis" suggests that humans have an innate connection to Nature and that this connection positively impacts our health.


The Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Reduction Theory also highlight how engaging with Nature can help restore mental fatigue and reduce stress levels. And it's not just the amount of time spent in Nature that matters, but the meaningful moments of connecting with the natural world.


The Evidence-Based Power of Nature for Health:


Feeling tired or overwhelmed by work or school?

Nature helps restore the mind from mental fatigue and improves work performance and overall job satisfaction.


Do your work and home environments provide daily access to Nature?

Incorporating Nature into building design, indoors and outdoors, provides calm and inspiration while promoting learning, curiosity, and clarity.


Are you caring for people living with dementia?

Meaningful engagement with the natural environment for people living with dementia

has shown:

Improved Mental State: reduced stress, agitation, anger, apathy and depression

Improved Physical Health: skin, fitness, sleep, and eating

Improved Verbal Expression

Improved Memory and Attention

Improved Awareness: Multisensory and Joy

Improved Sense of Wellbeing and Independence

Improved Social Interaction and Sense of Belonging


Do you have children or grandchildren?

Engagement with Nature nurtures nature connectedness that stimulates imagination, creativity, intellectual development, and enhance social relationships.


Do you and those you care with have opportunities to Nurture Nature?

Research has shown people involved in restoring Nature:

Reported improved physical fitness, reduced risk-taking behaviors, and positive impacts on their mental health, describing the work as life-changing and a saving grace.


Ecological restoration work provided a range of broader wellbeing benefits, including meaningful employment, respect, a stronger sense of place, and increased social connections, aligning with the criteria for achieving wellbeing set by the World Health Organization.

Are you curious about learning how to incorporate the evidence-based benefits of Caring In, For, and With Nature into your care practice?


Nature is Our #1 Care Ally, and We Are Nature's #1 Care Ally!


Care Outdoors: A Unique Approach to Care

Our Health is 100% Interconnected to Nature's Health!

The Care Outdoors approach is a way of caring that nurtures reciprocal-shared care, giving and receiving care by caring in, with, and for Nature.

To be valued is a human need that does not go away with a dementia diagnosis or mobility impairment or because one resides in a residential care community.

Reciprocal-Shared Care offers everyone an opportunity to give and receive care while nurturing the biodiversity of our landscapes: a win for people, plants, and animals!


Sharing Care Outdoors: Prioritize Health and Wellbeing

Valuing moments outdoors as a form of care is simple yet profound.


LEARN HOW TO:

Restore and Renew

with Care Outdoors

A Two-Day Online Course Retreat

An Experiential Learning Program




Discover the Power of Nurturing Nature Connectedness:

According to the Nature Connectedness Research Group, Nature Connectedness =

captures the relationship between people and the rest of Nature. Nature connectedness is a measurable psychological construct that moves beyond contact with Nature to an individual's sense of their relationship with the natural world.

A strong connection with Nature means feeling a close relationship or an emotional attachment to our natural surroundings. Connectivity and a sense of belonging to Nature improve cognitive, sensory, and social development while stimulating physical activity, positive emotions, and increasing our value of the natural world.


Research shows that people with high levels of nature connectedness are happier, less stressed, and report having more vitality and meaning in their lives. Feeling connected to Nature generates positive emotions like calmness, creativity, joy, facilitates focus, concentration, and lessens feelings of isolation and loneliness for all ages.


The human-nature relationship promotes wellbeing for humans, and nature connectedness generates pro-environment behavior—a win for humanity and all our relations.

.

Embark on a Green Care Adventure: You will learn about Green Care and evidence-based approaches, including care farming, forest bathing, and green exercise. You'll discover how incorporating green care into your care routine can prevent burnout and enhance your overall wellbeing and the wellbeing of those you care for!


Build Stronger Community Ties: This retreat highlights the importance of nature connectedness capital, reciprocal-shared care, and the role of Care Outdoors in preventing loneliness and isolation.

You will learn how to overcome perceived barriers to sharing care outdoors.


Create a Personalized Action Plan: Reflecting on your retreat experience, you will develop an action plan, growing Nature Connectedness and Reciprocal-Shared Care. You will Access valuable resources for further study and exploration and be equipped with the tools to strengthen health, wellbeing and Share Care Outdoors for All to Benefit!

People and Planet!


Earn Continuing Education Credits!

Restore and Renew with Care Outdoors

is Approved for 8 Instructional Hours

by the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

Approval #: NCCAP5028782-24NT

Care Outdoors Leader Certificate Upon Completion!


You will have access to our Care Outdoors Community!

Sharing stories, discussions, insight, resources, best practices, and more!


Online Course Retreat Outcomes:

Deeper Understanding of Nature Connectedness and Mindfulness

Gain insights into the evidence-based pathways to nurture nature connectedness and develop mindfulness and meditation practices through appreciation of the natural world.

Benefits of Green Care

Acquire knowledge of the benefits of green care approaches and learn the Art of Care Outdoors.

Importance of Nature Connectedness Capital and Outdoor Care

Recognize the importance of the human-nature connection for preventing loneliness and isolation, and learn strategies to overcome barriers to outdoor care, inspiring others to share care outdoors daily.

Why Take an Online Course Retreat?

A Retreat Offers an Opportunity To:

  1. Take a break from daily routines and distractions

  2. Reconnect with yourself

  3. Recharge your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing

  4. Engage in self-care practices in a safe and comfortable environment

  5. Gain new perspectives and insights

  6. Develop skills for maintaining mindfulness and wellbeing in daily life

  7. Create a personalized plan for self-care and growth

  8. Reduce stress and improve your wellbeing


An Online Course Retreat Offers:

  1. Comfort and familiarity: At-home retreats enable you to learn in a comfortable and familiar environment, reducing stress and anxiety and helping you focus more fully on the content.

  2. Cost savings: At-home retreats eliminate the cost and time associated with travel, making them an affordable and accessible option for learning.

  3. Flexibility: At-home retreats enable you to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs and schedule

  4. Personalization: At-home retreats offer the opportunity for you to create a personalized and intentional learning environment, which can deepen your learning experience.

  5. Integration with daily life: At-home retreats enable you to integrate your learning with your daily life, making it easier to apply and reinforce new content

Course Includes Inspiring E-Book!


Call to Action!

Enroll Today! Once you order, you will receive a welcome email with how to plan and prepare for your at-home experiential learning retreat fully!

Prefer to take the course

with a Cohort?

Cohort Sessions are $225

Hybrid Cohort Sessions are $325


Interested in booking a Cohort of your team/organization? Learn how I can support your needs and group discounts available. Send me a message of interest and I will be in touch!









Research


Bennett, J., Wolverson, E., & Price, E. (2022). Me, myself, and Nature: living with dementia and connecting with the natural world–more than a breath of fresh air? A literature review. Dementia, 21(7), 2351-2376.


Marsh, P., Auckland, S., Dudley, T., Kendal, D., & Flies, E. (2023). A mountain of health benefits? Impacts of ecological restoration activities on human wellbeing. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 4, 100132.


Richardson M, Hallam J, Lumber R. 2015. One thousand good things in Nature: aspects of nearby Nature associated with improved connection to Nature. Environ Values. 24(5):603–619. doi:10.3197/096327115X14384223590131.


Richardson M. 2019. Beyond restoration: considering emotion regulation in natural well-being. Ecopsychology. 11(2):123–129. doi:10.1089/eco.2019.0012.


Richardson M, Passmore H-A, Hunt A, Thomas R. 2020. The green care code: how nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro-nature conservation behaviours. People Nat. 2:821–839. doi:10.1002/pan3.10117.

Richardson, M., Dobson, J., Abson, D. J., Lumber, R., Hunt, A., Young, R., & Moorhouse, B. (2020). Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: a leverage points perspective. Ecosystems and People, 16(1), 387-401.


West, C., Mogilner, C., & DeVoe, S. E. (2021). Happiness from treating the weekend like a vacation. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 12(3), 346-356.

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