Hortas terapêuticas e educação ambiental: caminhos para o envelhecimento ativo e sustentável

Abstract

This study aimed to understand how the integration of therapeutic gardens and environmental education can contribute to active, healthy, and sustainable aging, promoting physical, mental, and social well-being, as well as strengthening ecological awareness among older adults. The research was characterized as exploratory and descriptive, adopting a qualitative and quantitative approach, and was conducted with elderly participants of the Arte Sustentável project and residents of a social care institution in the city of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Data collection was carried out through structured questionnaires, direct observation, and dialogue with participants, seeking to identify perceptions related to health, lifestyle habits, social interaction, and environmental practices associated with horticulture. The results showed that most participants had previous experience with agricultural activities and demonstrated a high level of interest in participating in therapeutic gardening initiatives, recognizing significant benefits to physical health, such as improved mobility and engagement in light physical activity, as well as to mental health, including stress reduction, improved mood, and strengthened social bonds. Although conceptual knowledge about agroecology was limited, there was a strong willingness to learn and adopt sustainable practices. It is concluded that therapeutic gardens constitute important spaces for health promotion, environmental education, and social inclusion, contributing to the protagonism of older adults and the development of sustainable practices, reaffirming their potential as an interdisciplinary strategy for aging with dignity and quality of life