References
Life is for living: the contribution of the arts and gardens
Abstract
Quality of life and life enrichment are important throughout the lifespan and no less during ill-health or later life. The role of the arts and gardens and their potential benefits are not prominent within healthcare practice. This paper outlines the evidence reported in two literature reviews, one addressing the arts and the other focusing on gardens and gardening so that district nurses can understand what art-based and gardening opportunities they may offer their clients and their carers.
The world's population is ageing at an unprecedented rate (United Nations, 2017) and particularly so in Europe, where the median age is the highest in the world. While the increased older population is a cause for celebration, confirming improved living standards and healthcare interventions, it creates the need to add ‘quality’ to extending lives, because a long life is not necessarily a good life. The importance of living life beyond simply existing has been reflected in the development of policies relating to the arts, culture and health across different European countries, for example, in Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the UK (Liikanen, 2010; Camic and Clift, 2015; Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2016; All Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, 2017).
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