Cultivating Well-Being: An Exploratory Analysis of the Integral Benefits of Urban Gardens in the Promotion of Active Aging

The ageing population is a global phenomenon that has increased multimorbidity, disability and frailty in people over the age of 60, posing ever greater challenges for public health systems. In this context, this study analyses the role of urban gardens as platforms that promote active ageing and contribute to the physical, psychological and social well-being of this group at risk of exclusion and vulnerability. Focusing on the city of Valencia, one of the Spanish regions with the highest proportion of people over 60, the research adopts a qualitative approach based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 older adults who regularly participate in urban gardens. The results show that these gardens promote active ageing by offering opportunities for regular physical activity, emotional relief, social interaction and nutritional improvement through food grown by the participants themselves, as well as greater autonomy, improved mood, mental stimulation and a renewed sense of purpose after retirement. The gardens also function as inclusive spaces that foster intergenerational relationships and strengthen community ties. Urban gardens act as multifunctional infrastructures that should be integrated into urban planning because of their potential to improve the quality of life of older people and address the challenges of population ageing.