Nature groups reduced loneliness initially in older assisted-living residents
A randomized trial found less loneliness after the group program, but the difference weakened later. Overall health-related quality of life did not clearly improve compared with usual care.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In this trial, nature-based group activities reduced loneliness more than usual care at the first follow-up, but the difference became smaller later. The trial did not find a difference in overall health-related quality-of-life changes. The findings support a short-term loneliness benefit in these residents, while leaving lasting benefit and broader health improvement uncertain.
The comparison tested a package of group contact and nature exposure, so it cannot isolate nature's contribution. The abstract does not establish whether the loneliness change was large enough to matter to residents.
What researchers found
Loneliness change at 3 months
Modified De Jong Gierveld scale: nature group versus usual care; 95% CIs were -3.5 to -0.9 and -1.4 to 0.9, respectively; between-group P = .025.
Loneliness and overall health
The early loneliness result weakened at later follow-ups. Overall quality-of-life scores showed no clear group difference, although the sleep component favored the intervention. A change in that component does not establish improvement in overall health-related quality of life.
Who the findings describe
Participants lived in assisted-living facilities, and frailty and dementia were common. Attendance and time outdoors were linked with outcomes, but those patterns do not prove that attending more sessions or spending longer outside caused greater benefit.
The original publication
Effectiveness of nature-based group intervention in loneliness and health-related quality-of-life in lonely older adults living in assisted living facilities-a randomised controlled trial.
Pitkälä KH, Rautiainen L, Kautiainen H et al.
Age Ageing · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41638234
- Record checked
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