A new research has revealed that nature promotes physical, mental, and spiritual healing especially in older adults who stay close to natural environment.
The research conducted by University of Minnesota showed that green and blue spaces or a bench with a view of flowers or environments with running or still water was beneficial for healthy aging in seniors.
The research explained that accessibility to everyday green and blue spaces encourages seniors to simply get out the door, which in turn motivates them to be active physically, spiritually and socially, which can offset chronic illness, disability and isolation.
Jessica Finlay, a former research assistant and the lead author, said that she and her team focused on everyday life of seniors between the ages of 65 and 86 and observed that experiences, such as hearing the sound of water or a bee buzzing among flowers, can really have a positive impact on older adult's overall health.
Finlay shared that while their research seemed intuitive, but it creates conversations on how to build communities that serve people across their entire lifetime i.e. one should not just concentrate on creating playground for children, also on sheltered benches for the grandparents to watch them.
The research is published in the journal 'Health and Place'.
