Title : Towards nature based social prescription to alleviate loneliness, Ecuador
Abstract:
The present contribution is part of the project "Reimagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces" (RECETAS). It aims to test and evaluate Nature-Based Social Prescriptions (NBSP) to alleviate loneliness in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. In contrast to the northern countries, the study of loneliness and NBSP is emerging in Latin American countries, particularly in Ecuador. Therefore, this contribution can be considered pioneering research in this regard, centered on the co-creation of an NBSP menu to alleviate loneliness in older adults. It pursues a double objective: (i) to establish guidelines for a methodological process of co-creation of an NBSP menu for its replication adapted to other contexts, and (ii) to disseminate the activities identified to alleviate the loneliness of older adults. Methodologically, the study adopted a participatory approach with and for older adults, developed in Cuenca, Ecuador, between October 2021 and May 2023, that resulted in a co-created NBSP menu appropriate to the context and population group under study.
