Nature-Based Welfare in Older Adulthood: An Eco-Appreciation Perspective

ObjectivesThis study examined the reciprocal relationship between older adults’ well-being and their accounts of human-nature relations (HNR). Guided by the tenets of the Eco-Appreciation Perspective, the question addressed was: What can be learned from older adults’ relations with nature about reciprocal nature-based welfare in older adulthood?MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 60 participants over the age of 65 in Israel, followed by a sequential deductive-inductive analysis of the data.ResultsFour major themes were yielded: HNR as presence and being; HNR as connection; HNR as past, present, and future; and HNR as benevolence. Participants’ experiences revealed an interaction between gratitude and awareness toward HNR and an enhanced sense of well-being, purpose, meaning, and belonging. The analysis also exposed novel insights into how HNR in older adulthood can prompt mutual nature-based welfare and provide an ongoing source of comfort and resilience, both through current activities and by accessing childhood memories.DiscussionThe findings are discussed in the context of eco-centric viewpoints on contemporary aging, and highlight the active role that older adults can play in deepening their connection with nature while calling on professionals in health, gerontology, social work, and community care to recognize and harness the mutual benefits of this bond.