Care Farms as an Innovative Form of Social Services in Rural Areas

Abstract

Care farms represent an innovative form of combining agricultural activity with social services, which is gaining importance in the context of the multifunctional development of rural areas and support for seniors, lonely people or those in difficult life situation. The article focuses on two aspects: the essence of care farms, their functioning and their impact on improving the quality of life of participants; the possibilities of implementing this model in Polish conditions. The development of the idea of care farms is discussed using examples of case studies from selected European countries. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of implementing the model in domestic conditions, using the example of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, which is a pioneer in implementing the idea of care farms in Poland and where the first pilot projects were carried out. To achieve the aim of the work, research methods included literature studies, descriptive method and the results of a focus group study conducted among service beneficiaries and care farm owners. The research results indicate growing interest in this form of activity and the significant potential of agricultural farms for the development of care services as a tool for social integration and counteracting social exclusion, as well as their role in the social support system as social innovations at the interface of agriculture and care. In Poland, care farms can become an important element of sustainable rural development and can be a response to socio-demographic challenges, offering unique benefits from contact with nature and participation in farm life, and providing an alternative to institutional forms of care.