Landscapes at The Preserve

Thoughtful Landscapes Growing at The Preserve

The Preserve Senior Living at Mentor Ridge sits on a hilltop within the beautiful Newell Creek Preserve. Not only does wildlife and flora surround The Preserve, but also there is a piece of nature inside the premier assisted living facility in Mentor, Ohio.

A large enclosed courtyard lined with flowering trees features winding pathways, a duck pond with a babbling brook, shady sitting areas, and raised garden beds. The courtyard is an integral piece of the property’s thoughtful design.

Access to nature, like the courtyard at The Preserve Senior Living, has been proven to improve brain health, cognitive function, and social interaction for older individuals. The benefits of access to nature are key ingredients to our health as we age, according to a research brief published by the TKF foundation.

Structures to Promote Brain Health, Encourage Engagement

The Courtyard at The Preserve at Mentor Ridge features several distinguishable features that do not just look beautiful – they promote brain health and emotional well-being for our senior residents and their guests.

Items like a shady pergola arched over a pathway can evoke positive cultural memories; triggering happy memories from the past reduces stress. The pergola also filters direct sunlight for safety and comfort. It provides a comfortable space for residents and their guests to rest.

Inclusive gardening beds throughout the courtyard landscape encourage physical development and create a familiar pleasant activity that develops mental stability and control.

The duck pond, named Mallard’s Landing after the brightly colored birds that nest in the area each year, is a cozy place for ducks to raise their ducklings. Residents can feed the ducks, promoting a daily routine and establishing a sense of control and purpose for our seniors. Watching the ducklings waddle and grow is a favorite pastime for many.

Several intimate sitting areas throughout the space allow for quiet reflection and relaxation. These areas provide privacy and create a sense of independence. When joined by friends in these areas, our residents can also enjoy social interaction and engage in small group activities.

Physical Features designed with Safety in Mind

The physical elements within the courtyard at The Preserve promote physical activity all while keeping safety in mind too. Winding pathways throughout the courtyard serve as a guide for residents to meander throughout. Defined pathways provide concise, recognizable routes to encourage physical development while reducing opportunities for disorientation.

A section of the path features different textures, such as stone pavers, pebbles, and a bridge, so that residents can practice walking and transitioning to various surfaces. Research shows that staying active outdoors has many benefits for seniors.

A 2012 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that older adults in a retirement community who routinely spent more than 30 minutes in outdoor physical activities were less likely to report depressive symptoms and fear of falling.

Elements to Accommodate Memory Deficits

The courtyard also has design features in place to benefit older adults with memory loss, dementia, or other cognitive issues.

Defined edges along pathways and the courtyard boundaries help older adults stay oriented and have fewer opportunities for wandering or confusion. Rock, wood, smooth, soft, and organic textures in the courtyard stimulate senses. And, landmark features like the duck pond with babbling brook provide orientation and visual hierarchy.

Surrounded by windows, the courtyard can also be enjoyed from inside both the assisted living and memory care areas. Views to outdoor spaces promote lower stress levels and produce restful situations.

With beauty both outside and inside The Preserve, the property is a special place to call home. The poet Wendell Berry summarizes the many benefits of nature in his poem “The Peace of Wild Things.” He says:

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

The Preserve Senior Living at Mentor Ridge is Mentor’s premier assisted living center. As part of a continuum of care campus, we are able to care for people with a variety of needs. Our neighboring 5-star rated skilled nursing facility, our secure memory care area, and our lavish assisted living setting are staffed by caring companions who strive to offer the highest quality of care.