A pilot programme evaluation of social farming horticultural and occupational activities for older people in Italy

Health & Social Care in the Community
Cristina GagliardiMirko di Rosa

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a 1-year social farming programme conducted between 2014 and 2015, including horticultural and occupational activities on six agricultural farms for older people in good general health. Social farming is a practice that uses agricultural resources to provide health, social or educational services to vulnerable groups of people. Activity participation, social relationships, physical activity, and the quality of life of the participants were assessed using a pretest, posttest design. A total of 112 subjects were interviewed at baseline, though only 73 participants were retained through the end of the follow-up, resulting in a dropout rate of 34%. Data analysis revealed significant improvements in both social relationships and overall occupational engagement at the end of the programme, with significant increases in the frequency of contact with friends or relatives as well as the number of activities performed by the participants. This work adds to the literature on the effects of social farming and indicates that farming may provide opportunities for older people to engage in activities that stimulate social behaviours.

References

Feb 1, 1990·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·R L RogersK F Mortel
Aug 1, 1997·The Gerontologist·J W Rowe, R L Kahn
Dec 1, 1999·The American Journal of Occupational Therapy : Official Publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association·C H Christiansen
Feb 24, 2001·Medical Care·F LandiUNKNOWN SILVERNET-HC Study Group of Bergamo
Mar 20, 2001·Archives of Neurology·D LaurinK Rockwood
Jun 20, 2003·The New England Journal of Medicine·Joe VergheseHerman Buschke
Apr 7, 2004·Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen, Markku Kauppinen
Mar 23, 2005·American Journal of Epidemiology·Laura Jean PodewilsConstantine G Lyketsos
Sep 19, 2006·Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·Ladislav VolicerMary Ellen Riordan
Feb 7, 2007·Archives of General Psychiatry·Robert S WilsonDavid A Bennett
Aug 30, 2008·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·O P Murty
Feb 4, 2009·Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·Yuchi YoungElizabeth A Phelan
Jan 22, 2013·Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care·Maria MagnilCecilia Björkelund
Mar 27, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Andrew SteptoeJane Wardle
Oct 25, 2013·Health and Quality of Life Outcomes·Francisco Félix CaballeroJosé Luis Ayuso-Mateos
Apr 1, 1987·Journal of Cross-cultural Gerontology·S S Sered
Dec 26, 2016·Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·Bram de BoerHilde Verbeek
Oct 12, 2015·Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine·Simone R de BruinCaroline A Baan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 7, 2019·Journal of Applied Gerontology : the Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society·Sara SantiniCristina Gagliardi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.