Utilizing local forests for elderly people : Case studies and their future possibilities

Abstract

Currently, aging in local communities is a major social issue in Japan. At the same time, the increase in abandoned forests in various regions is also a major issue. However, if the health and recreation functions of forests can be effectively utilized, local forests have great potential for promoting the health of local elderly people, preventing diseases, and improving their health. This presentation introduces five case studies of health and recreation in local forests in local communities in Japan. The first two cases are from Fukuoka Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu, which are close to Korea. At local hospitals in both prefectures, forests of cedar, cypress, and evergreen broadleaf trees that had been abandoned were developed and used mainly for the treatment of dementia patients. As a result, the patients' behavioral disorders associated with dementia (BPSD) decreased, and improvements were seen in their daily lives. The next case is from Saitama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture in Honshu. Regular walks using local forests in depopulated areas of both prefectures were effective in preventing social withdrawal and bedridden among elderly people living alone, and in alleviating high blood pressure and dementia. The last case is from a hospital forest in the suburbs of Tokyo. As a result of developing a coppice (Satoyama) that had been abandoned for over 30 years, a rest area was created for medical staff who were exhausted by COVID-19 and other factors, and occupational therapy for elderly patients became possible. These cases are entirely feasible in Korea, where there are similarities in forest vegetation and local communities, and do not require a particularly large budget. In the future, in Korea, Japan, and other countries, the use of local forests has great potential for improving the health and rest of local elderly people.