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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 207-214 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Health and Social Care in the Community |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - Aug 29 2018 |
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Keywords
- older people
- quality of life
- social farming
- social participation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Sociology and Political Science
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
A pilot programme evaluation of social farming horticultural and occupational activities for older people in Italy. / Gagliardi, Cristina; Santini, Sara; Piccinini, Flavia; Fabbietti, Paolo; di Rosa, Mirko.
In: Health and Social Care in the Community, Vol. 27, No. 1, 29.08.2018, p. 207-214.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A pilot programme evaluation of social farming horticultural and occupational activities for older people in Italy
AU - Gagliardi, Cristina
AU - Santini, Sara
AU - Piccinini, Flavia
AU - Fabbietti, Paolo
AU - di Rosa, Mirko
PY - 2018/8/29
Y1 - 2018/8/29
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - older people
KW - quality of life
KW - social farming
KW - social participation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052841136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85052841136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/hsc.12641
DO - 10.1111/hsc.12641
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85052841136
VL - 27
SP - 207
EP - 214
JO - Health and Social Care in the Community
JF - Health and Social Care in the Community
SN - 0966-0410
IS - 1
ER -