Fresh air! Just what the doctor ordered
SCOTLAND’S pensioners could soon be ‘prescribed’ outdoor walks, in a bid to tackle social isolation, dementia and fitness levels.
So-called ‘green prescriptions’, issued for free by doctors, could give older people the motivation they need to exercise, according to a new report.
Doctors are seen as being in a ‘position of authority’ and experts believe pensioners are more likely to follow their advice, rather than being nagged by friends or relatives.
Ministers last night said they would look at the recommendation ‘very carefully’.
The move comes after the Scottish Daily Mail launched a campaign to tackle the country’s epidemic of loneliness in old age.
Speaking on a visit to a Forest Enterprise Scotland project for elderly people in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: ‘Scotland has a spectacular natural environment and I want to ensure that its many health and social benefits can be enjoyed by young and old alike. This research shines a light on the barriers faced by older people and identifies a number of ways of maximising opportunities for outdoor recreation.’
She added: ‘We want to make the most of our “natural health service” and so the Scottish Government will now look at these recommendations very carefully with our delivery partners.’
John Nugent, senior medical officer for the Scottish Government, said: ‘The benefits of exercise are well documented but it can sometimes be a challenge to find a form of exercise that is both enjoyable and readily available.
‘Using Scotland’s “natural gym” to walk or cycle is an ideal way to combine exercise with an appreciation of Scotland’s natural beauty.’
The report, ‘Access to outdoor recreation by older people in Scotland’, was commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by the James Hutton Institute.
Researcher Margaret Currie said: ‘Outdoor recreation means different things to different people – for some it might be bagging a Munro, while for others it simply means getting out of the house. Consetackle quently, older people can face varied and multiple barriers to accessing outdoor recreation, which change over time.
‘We have been able to identify a number of potential interventions, such as green prescribing which should be integrated with existing initiatives like health walks that offer opportunities for overcoming social and motivational barriers.’
Gordon Harper, community ranger with Forest Enterprise Scotland, said: ‘The woodland environment offers a natural sensory experience which stimulates reminiscence, creates conversation and promotes engagement.’
Earlier this year the Scottish Daily Mail launched a campaign to
‘Use our natural health service’
the country’s epidemic of poverty and loneliness in old age.
The Mail published a letter from an 80-year-old widower who had fallen into depression in his old age and struggled to make ends meet.
The letter put the plight of Scotland’s pensioners at the forefront of the Scottish parliament elections in May.
Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson and Kezia Dugdale all made a series of pledges in response to the coverage.