Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review

The global population of older people grows systematically and with age, the physical and cognitive abilities of people decline. The amount of evidence that gardening may provide substantial health benefits and enhance the quality of ageing is increasing. This paper presents a systematic review of t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Heród Anna, Szewczyk-Taranek Bożena, Pawłowska Bożena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2022-05-01
Series:Folia Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2022-0008
_version_ 1811280696075878400
author Heród Anna
Szewczyk-Taranek Bożena
Pawłowska Bożena
author_facet Heród Anna
Szewczyk-Taranek Bożena
Pawłowska Bożena
author_sort Heród Anna
collection DOAJ
description The global population of older people grows systematically and with age, the physical and cognitive abilities of people decline. The amount of evidence that gardening may provide substantial health benefits and enhance the quality of ageing is increasing. This paper presents a systematic review of the therapeutic effects of horticulture and gardening on clients aged ≥60 years. It encompasses articles published in English between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021. The literature survey shows that the interest in the topic has grown significantly in recent years as over half of the published studies are from 2019 to 2021. Most of this work was done in Asia (60%), America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The most commonly used interventions were active horticultural therapy programs or gardening, but 20% of the studies explored the passive connection of being outside. The fitness of the elderly was measured using 33 psychological tests, 32 physiological and functional parameters and different kinds of self-developed questionnaires and interviews. The most commonly used psychological tests were the Geriatric Depression Scale, Self-rated Health and Quality of Life, Mini-Mental State Examination, Friendship Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, and the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire. The physiological and functional parameters included heart rate variability, blood pressure, electroencephalography, brain nerve growth factors, and different types of biomarkers. The study outcomes demonstrated positive results of horticultural therapy on human health and well-being, particularly in a psychological dimension and to a smaller but still significant extent physiological aspect.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T01:18:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f798660355914d9ca4d17d25bc7d9bdb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2083-5965
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T01:18:19Z
publishDate 2022-05-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series Folia Horticulturae
spelling doaj.art-f798660355914d9ca4d17d25bc7d9bdb2022-12-22T03:08:50ZengSciendoFolia Horticulturae2083-59652022-05-013418510410.2478/fhort-2022-0008Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic reviewHeród Anna0Szewczyk-Taranek Bożena1Pawłowska Bożena2Department of Ornamental Plants and Garden Art, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425, Kraków, PolandDepartment of Ornamental Plants and Garden Art, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425, Kraków, PolandDepartment of Ornamental Plants and Garden Art, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425, Kraków, PolandThe global population of older people grows systematically and with age, the physical and cognitive abilities of people decline. The amount of evidence that gardening may provide substantial health benefits and enhance the quality of ageing is increasing. This paper presents a systematic review of the therapeutic effects of horticulture and gardening on clients aged ≥60 years. It encompasses articles published in English between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021. The literature survey shows that the interest in the topic has grown significantly in recent years as over half of the published studies are from 2019 to 2021. Most of this work was done in Asia (60%), America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The most commonly used interventions were active horticultural therapy programs or gardening, but 20% of the studies explored the passive connection of being outside. The fitness of the elderly was measured using 33 psychological tests, 32 physiological and functional parameters and different kinds of self-developed questionnaires and interviews. The most commonly used psychological tests were the Geriatric Depression Scale, Self-rated Health and Quality of Life, Mini-Mental State Examination, Friendship Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, and the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire. The physiological and functional parameters included heart rate variability, blood pressure, electroencephalography, brain nerve growth factors, and different types of biomarkers. The study outcomes demonstrated positive results of horticultural therapy on human health and well-being, particularly in a psychological dimension and to a smaller but still significant extent physiological aspect.https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2022-0008agriculture servicesgardeninggreen carehealth promotionhorticultural therapyolder people
spellingShingle Heród Anna
Szewczyk-Taranek Bożena
Pawłowska Bożena
Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
Folia Horticulturae
agriculture services
gardening
green care
health promotion
horticultural therapy
older people
title Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
title_full Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
title_fullStr Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
title_short Therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health, well-being and life quality – A systematic review
title_sort therapeutic horticulture as a potential tool of preventive geriatric medicine improving health well being and life quality a systematic review
topic agriculture services
gardening
green care
health promotion
horticultural therapy
older people
url https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2022-0008
work_keys_str_mv AT herodanna therapeutichorticultureasapotentialtoolofpreventivegeriatricmedicineimprovinghealthwellbeingandlifequalityasystematicreview
AT szewczyktaranekbozena therapeutichorticultureasapotentialtoolofpreventivegeriatricmedicineimprovinghealthwellbeingandlifequalityasystematicreview
AT pawłowskabozena therapeutichorticultureasapotentialtoolofpreventivegeriatricmedicineimprovinghealthwellbeingandlifequalityasystematicreview