Diseño de un huerto urbano con fines terapéuticos para mejorar el bienestar emocional de adultos mayores en el Hogar de Ancianos Sagrado Corazón de Jesús

Abstract

The project addresses the design of an urban garden adapted to the context of institutionalized older adults, aiming to promote their emotional, cognitive, and social well-being through contact with nature. The research stems from the increasing population of older adults, which has a growing demand for spaces and elements that promote healthy aging. In the context of geriatric institutions, interaction with natural elements is limited due to the lack of accessible green spaces, which diminishes their quality of life and produces feelings of disconnection and isolation. Using the Design Thinking methodology, an environmental and user study was conducted, identifying the need to implement a green solution as a response to the user's physical and cognitive limitations within their immediate environment. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, including document review, environmental analysis through non-participant observation, interviews, and surveys. This approach was necessary to establish a diagnosis based on the concepts of accessibility, functionality, ease of use, and stimulation, which allowed for the development of a functional prototype with an irrigation system and other functional mechanisms. The implementation of the prototype boosted interest in outdoor activities and interaction with other residents and was consolidated as a viable and replicable element in relation to its line of research, which allowed the garden to be considered as a functional complement to the environment of the elderly and responds to the challenges of the current aging of the population.