園藝治療對社區老年人孤獨感影響之探討

The Exploration of the Impact of Horticultural Therapy on the Loneliness of Elderly People in the Community

隨著全球人口快速高齡化，台灣於2018年老年人口佔總人口比例達14%，正式邁入「高齡化社會」。老年人口隨年齡增長，常伴隨身體、心理、認知及社會功能的多重退化，其中約有三分之一的老年人在生活中經歷孤獨感，並面臨社會互動減少與社交孤立的挑戰。園藝治療作為一種非藥物性介入方式，透過團體參與栽種活動，可啟發五感功能，進而促進生理、心理及認知功能的改善。同時，園藝治療亦有助於增進身心健康、強化社交支持及人際關係的建立，有助於減緩社區老年人孤獨感。

With the rapid aging of the global population, Taiwan officially entered an ''aging society'' in 2018, with the elderly population accounting for 14% of the total population. As elderly individuals age, they often experience multiple declines in physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functions. Among them, about one-third of the elderly experience feelings of loneliness and face challenges such as reduced social interaction and social isolation. Horticultural therapy, as a nonpharmacological intervention, promotes the stimulation of the five senses through group participation in planting activities, thereby improving physiological, psychological, and cognitive functions. At the same time, horticultural therapy helps enhance physical and mental health, strengthen social support, and build interpersonal relationships, which can help alleviate feelings of loneliness among elderly individuals in the communit.