Late Life Worry - How nature can provide balance and appreciation for being “Old” - Marilyn Laughlin, LCSW, RYT-500, Certified Nature Therapy Guide

Retired or not, many adults over the age of 65 have worries about aging.   As a clinician, I have listened as clients over 65 described financial worries, bouts of loneliness and depression, caregiving for spouses or parents, the loss of independence and/or abilities for daily life tasks, regrets, remorse for things that seem “too late” to remedy, grief, and preparing for their own end of life.  Reassessing routines and life goals for changing life phases can be stressful and cause disruption to family functioning.  But, whatever personal issues were involved, they all wanted to feel that they lived a meaningful life and still held value in the world after a life of work and/or raising children. 

Nature-based therapies can help older adults feel more comfortable moving into a new phase of life.  Nature is a source of resilience and a place for physical activity.   The emotions that arise on a walk in the woods, or working in a garden can help people move out of a negative mindset and relieve symptoms of depression.  Scent, sound, and touch are all tools that enhance the positive experience of spending time in and with nature.  

Nature doesn’t care about our politics, our possessive traits, or our desire to control outcomes for everything.   It provides a safe, non-judgmental space for reflecting about life, appreciation for present moments, and sustaining a positive mind-set.  The use of mindfulness skills in nature-based therapy has proven to have positive effects on self-esteem, increased self-compassion, positive emotions, and acceptance.  

Time and nature are going to have their way with all of us.  Spending intentional, consistent time in nature reminds us that “old” has its place.  Touch a redwood tree once and tell me I’m wrong.  Staying present in moments of regret, sadness, or lamentation as well as the positive, optimistic emotions we feel when enjoying time spent in natural environments gives us perspective about aging.  It reminds us of how many others have come and gone before us that we never knew, and we cannot imagine living their lives in our times.  By acknowledging personal feelings about aging we can restructure daily life to fit our needs and focus on sustaining a positive mindset.

Some specifics:  Some practitioners suggest  a “long walk” for people who are entering a new elder phase of life (depending on an individual’s abilities). The long walk is used as a metaphor for putting distance between one’s known routine, daily habits, and expectations about how time is spent and their new, unknown path of changing lifestyle patterns due to aged life changes.   

For people who may not have the resources or abilities to take the long walks, research found that spending time in gardens either viewing and sitting in gardens, or being involved in the planting, care, and harvesting of food or plants, or even discussing past gardening experiences offered similar benefits for well-being as the more physically-active long walks.

Yes!  I am a member of this population - still employed as a therapist, but the worrisome thoughts about aging are not a stranger to me either.  As Neil Young sang to us in the ‘70’s “walk on” and do it in nature. 

References:

Meabh Bonham-Corcoran et al.   Benefits of nature-based therapy Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy Volume 50 · Number 1 · 2022 · 16–27.

K. Tong et al.  Nature-based interventions for older adults: a systematic review of intervention types and methods, health effects and pathways.  Age and Ageing 2025; 54: afaf084.

Heród, A.; SzewczykTaranek, B.; Pawłowska, B. Enhancing Self-Esteem, Well-Being, and Relaxation in the Elderly through Nature-Based Interventions. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 952.