Exploration of Care Farming and Older Adults: The Potential of Care Farming Approaches to Improve the Health and Well-being of Older Adults

Abstract

Decline in the health of older adults has been identified throughout literature; research has brought necessary attention to the health concerns and inequities older adults face with regard to the lack of access to holistic supports for their health and well-being. The therapeutic use of natural spaces and farming environments and the occupations that naturally occur in these spaces is known as Care Farming; an occupation-based approach that could mitigate inequities experienced by the older adult population. However the potential of Care Farming in Canada is not known. An occupational science lens underpinned a scoping review and environmental scan to investigate what currently exists in the literature as well as the perceptions held by the public on Care Farming initiatives. The information and data reviewed and collected were then used to inform the development of a Care Farm pilot program, evaluation plan, and suggested next steps.