台中市綠園道對高齡者療育／癒效應之初探性調查與研究

An Explorative Survey and Study on the Therapeutic Effects of the Green Belt on the Elderly in Taichung City

都市綠環境對高齡者生活究竟有何益處？綠園道之環境是否具備「療育／癒性」成效，首要得視他們如何使用這些綠環境。本研究即有意調查台中市特出的帶狀「綠園道」，使用者中的高齡者是如何在其中活動的，以及他們如何使用它。包括實地系統性觀察紀錄，進而對使用頻繁的區段，進行更細緻的調查紀錄，包含這些區段實質環境之綠元素、高齡者活動的方式、內容及人數等。再而深入訪談多個案高齡者共25位，歸納他們來此活動原由與自覺效益為何等。以初探性回應前述議題。本研究有以下幾項主要之發現：深入調查之綠園道共五個區段，附近鄰里高齡者來此活動的人數較多，已有非正式社群出現，活動均以固定時間、場所呈現，並有一些共營活動之場所安排，亦出現經常性人際社交互動。五個區段實質環境的條件方面，除了綠色喬木、灌木植栽，少見花卉，其產生的遮蔭處夏日是人群停留之處；有陽光處又是冬日停留處。相對居家環境的狹小與缺乏綠地，所有高齡使用者均認為綠園道對平日生活與健康有相當助益，具有療育／癒性。

These issues were performed in way of exploratory study. Our study had several main findings. We performed in-depth investigations in 5 sections in the Greenway area where the elderly most frequently visited. They formed informal social groups and met at specific and scheduled time and locations. In addition, some locations were arranged for mutual activities, and social activities were frequently noted. Regarding to environmental features of 5 greenway section areas, green arbors and shrubs were noted, while flowers were less frequently found. In summer, the elderly tended to stay in the shaded areas; in winter, they liked to stay in the areas exposed to sunshine. In contrast to limited home space and a lack of green environment, all the elderly agreed that greenway space was therapeutic and beneficial to daily life and health. What are the benefits of urban green environment to the elderly population? The therapeutic effects of urban green environment largely depend on how the elderly population make use of it. This study aimed to investigate the activities that elderly residents made use of and engaged in the man-made, band-shape ''Greenway'', an urban design known to be present only in Taichung. The methods included field trip observation, and more detailed investigations were conducted in the areas where the elderly frequently had activities. Our research also included green elements in these areas, analysis of activity types and numbers of the elderly. In-depth interviews with 25 elderly participants were conducted and analysis of the reasons they came to the activities and the participants' perceived benefits were done.