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Healing gardens e Montessori, un approccio innovativo e proattivo per gli anziani

  • Patrizia Palmieri

Active ageing represents a central challenge for Geriatric Pedagogy, requiring innovative educational strategies to improve the quality of life of older adults with cognitive frailty. This study explores the integration of outdoor education and the Montessori method – two complementary approaches that support the preservation of residual abilities, cognitive stimulation, and overall well-being. Outdoor education, through therapeutic gardens, offers sensory and motor experiences that help reduce anxiety and disorientation. The Montessori method, when applied to frail older adults, provides a structured environment and specially designed materials that support autonomy and procedural memory. The analysis of the healing gardens workshop at the RSSA “Fondazione G. Palena” in Foggia shows benefits in socialization, mood, and autobiographical memory. Although the results are promising, further studies are needed to assess the replicability and long-term impact of this educational-therapeutic model.

  • Keywords:
  • Active Ageing,
  • Cognitive Frailty,
  • Montessori Method,
  • Outdoor Education,
  • Therapeutic Gardens,
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Patrizia Palmieri

University of Foggia, Italy - ORCID: 0009-0001-0858-5301

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  5. Mortari, Luigina. 2015. Filosofia della cura. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  6. Rivasseau Jonveaux, Therese, Batt, Martine, Fescharek, Reinhard, Benetos, Athanase, Trognon, Alain, Bah Chuzeville, Stanislas, Pop, Alina, Jacob, Christel, Yzoard, Manon, Demarche, Laetitia, Soulon, Laure, Malerba Gabriel, e Bruno Bouvel. 2013. “Healing Gardens and Cognitive Behavioral Units in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: The Nancy Experience.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 34 (1): 325-38. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-121657
  7. Sheppard, Christine L., McArthur, Caitlin, e Sander L. Hitzig. 2016. “A Systematic Review of Montessori-Based Activities for Persons With Dementia.” Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 17 (2): 117-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2015.10.006
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  • Publication Year: 2025
  • Pages: 503-512
  • Content License: CC BY 4.0
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  • Publication Year: 2025
  • Content License: CC BY 4.0
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Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Healing gardens e Montessori, un approccio innovativo e proattivo per gli anziani

Authors

Patrizia Palmieri

Language

Italian

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0744-7.59

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2025

Copyright Information

© 2025 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Accompagnare la longevità

Book Subtitle

Buone pratiche educative e formative per l’invecchiamento attivo

Editors

Vanna Boffo, Michele Bertani, Donatella Bramanti, Rabih Chattat, Laura Formenti

Peer Reviewed

Number of Pages

628

Publication Year

2025

Copyright Information

© 2025 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0744-7

ISBN Print

979-12-215-0743-0

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-0744-7

eISBN (xml)

979-12-215-0745-4

Series Title

Studies on Adult Learning and Education

Series ISSN

2704-596X

Series E-ISSN

2704-5781

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