In a study that gives new meaning to the phrase “natural healing,” scientists have found seniors who have access to natural surrounds daily have a higher quality of life, as well as better mental and physical health.

In research published in the journal Health and Place, medical experts from the University of Minnesota and Vancouver, B.C., determined that green and "blue" spaces (environments with running or still water) are especially beneficial for healthy aging in seniors.

"We zoomed in to everyday life for seniors between the ages of 65 and 86. We discovered how a relatively mundane experience, such as hearing the sound of water or a bee buzzing among flowers, can have a tremendous impact on overall health," said Jessica Finlay, a former research assistant on the project and lead author of the paper.

"Accessibility to everyday green and blue spaces encourages seniors to simply get out the door. This in turn motivates them to be active physically, spiritually and socially, which can offset chronic illness, disability and isolation."

Finlay and her colleagues offer three tips for healthier aging:

• Get outdoors regularly, even if it's just to go for a walk through your neighborhood.
• Prioritize everyday contact with nature by sitting in a park, listening to a water fountain, or looking at potted plants on a windowsill.
• Focus on your overall wellbeing: mental and social health are just as important as physical health when aging.

The researchers noted natural environments help older adults to build daily structure in retirement and can be comforting sites for spiritual connectedness with deceased loved ones, and relaxing places to escape the strains of later life.

"While our research may seem intuitive, it creates conversations on how to build communities that serve people across their entire lifetime. We don't just need a playground for children, we also need sheltered benches for the grandparents to watch them," said Finlay. "This research is more than anecdotal; it gives credence to some small but significant elements of everyday later life. Hopefully it will help urban planners and developers build communities that span a lifetime."

The findings are based on interviews with adults aged 65-86 years who lived in Vancouver.