Green Care Farms as an Approach to Support People Living with Dementia: An Exploratory Study of Stakeholder Perspectives

Anthea Innes (), Vanina Dal Bello-Haas, Equity Burke, Rebekah Churchyard and Ingrid Waldron
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Anthea Innes: Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University, Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
Vanina Dal Bello-Haas: School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
Equity Burke: Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University, Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
Rebekah Churchyard: Green Care Farms Inc., 9365 10 Side Rd, Milton, ON L9T 2X9, Canada
Ingrid Waldron: Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University, Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: How to best support people living with dementia and their care partners living in the community to maximize their quality of life and quality of living through appropriate and effective non-pharmaceutical approaches remains a focus of dementia societies and organizations worldwide. This paper examines the views of a range of stakeholders about the potential of green care farms in Canada, a country new to the concept of the green care farm approach to dementia support and care. Data were collected in Southern Ontario, Canada, between June and August 2022 via an online questionnaire ( n = 12) and 1-1 interviews ( n = 6). Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically counts and frequencies. All interviews were audio-recorded and fully transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. We report thematic findings relating to the understanding of care farms for people living with dementia, perceived benefits of care farming, perceived enablers and barriers to implementing such an approach, and the hopes, motivations, and expectations of different stakeholders. The potential of green care farming for people living with dementia and their care partners in the Canadian context was evident. There are implications for care policy and practice relating to the promotion of (social) health and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

Keywords: green care farms; dementia; benefits; physical health; social health; mental health; day care provision; green care; farm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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