Healing Agriculture: Caring for Animals and Working in Vegetable Gardens and Gardens [Senior Trend]

Europe Senior Stories ⑤ - Netherlands

The Netherlands is a tourist destination famous for its windmill villages, but it is less familiar to us as a country because its exports are more focused on machinery, equipment, and chemical products rather than consumer goods. The Korean expatriate community numbers only about 1,500. The country is smaller in area than South Korea and has a total population of less than 18 million, but its population density and economic level are similar. As of 2022, the population aged 65 and over in the Netherlands was 3.53 million, reaching the threshold of a super-aged society at 20% of the total population. With increasing life expectancy, the proportion of those aged 80 and above is also gradually rising, accelerating issues related to supporting the elderly population and expanding healthcare costs. Nevertheless, the Netherlands ranks among the top countries worldwide in press freedom, economic freedom, human development index, and quality of life. With an average birth rate of 1.64, it is among the higher birth rate groups in Europe. It is even nicknamed "a country where children and the elderly are happy." In 2020, the elderly poverty rate was in the 1% range, the lowest in the world. This is because, based on the principle that everyone should have a basic standard of living in old age, the country provides about 1.5 million KRW per month through the Old Age Basic Pension (The Algemene Ouderdomswet, AOW).

In Europe, care and rehabilitation services provided on farms have long been integrated into the national health and welfare system, developing a government-supported integrated care model linked to agriculture. Among these, the Netherlands is well known as a powerhouse of "care farming." A "care farm" is a program or service that uses the farm environment to promote individuals' mental, physical, and social well-being. In South Korea, it refers to "various types of activities that actively interact with nature to participate in agricultural activities while achieving care, education, health promotion, social rehabilitation, and integration." Care farms can be found in various countries, but the Dutch example is exemplary. There are about 1,100 care farms, serving 20,000 people annually. They have systematically established a model over many years by integrating agriculture and care, offering a variety of activities for mental and physical well-being.

What is particularly remarkable is that anyone can be a recipient of these services. They embrace a strong sense of community to include not only elderly people facing difficulties such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and various aftereffects of illnesses but also people at risk of social isolation such as the disabled, those suffering from depression, or alcohol addiction. A representative example well known even in Korea is Boerderij 't Paradijs (Farm 't Paradijs). It is a day-care farm used by children, adults, and the elderly (including dementia patients), operated under Christian principles. In addition to cultivating crops, they raise horses, pigs, cattle, and chickens, offering programs like "cleaning the barn." They grow organic strawberries and tomatoes for income, operate a local food store as well as an experience farm, generating additional revenue. Volunteers participate in activities such as putting stickers on eggs, combining experiential and care activities. After meals, they have naps, relaxed tea times, and traditional folk games.

Meanwhile, there is also Erve Knippert, a day-care farm exclusively for the elderly. It is run by a nurse who used to care for the elderly, with most users being patients with severe dementia. Morning activities include caring for animals, working in vegetable gardens and flower beds, and helping with cooking. Afternoon activities involve farm walks, cycling, and photography. Tea times are held frequently to create a relaxed atmosphere. They cultivate crops and observe the participants doing what they want. These activities foster a sense of self-efficacy, which is said to contribute to better health.

De Regiershoeve was created by a farm owner who lost many family members to hereditary diseases, especially for his mother who spent a long time confined to her room due to dementia before passing away. Believing that engaging in activities is important, he established the care farm. It is a "small scale care" family-like environment and nature-friendly place, created by the father and now operated by the daughter after his retirement. Short-term stays are possible, and there is a group living arrangement where six young people live with dementia patients. Like other care farms, they care for animals and engage in vegetable garden activities.

D'n Aoverstep farm is a day-care farm used by both adults and the elderly, and it also has a residential facility for the disabled. The farm operator, a former accountant, runs three large-scale care farms?farm, nursing facility, and arcade?and is so well known locally that even broadcasting stations have covered it.

In a society with an increasing elderly population, care farms provide opportunities and activities to help older people live actively rather than spending their days confined to nursing homes or hospital rooms.

Few countries have as many trees as South Korea. While there are management issues such as logging when considering the value of timber, from the perspective of forest healing, there is ample potential for utilization. In fact, the number of senior volunteers working as forest guides after retirement is increasing. This benefits children, facilitates interaction with younger generations, and through natural walking, helps maintain both mental and physical health, making it a win-win situation. More than that, since it is an activity that cares for rather than damages nature, it is a triple win.

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age