Contribution of inclusive beekeeping to the quality of life of persons with disabilities and elderly people

Persons with disabilities and elderly people represent a particularly vulnerable population that may experience various difficulties in their physical, psychological, and social functioning. In order to empower them, it is therefore necessary to implement various interdisciplinary therapeutic and rehabilitation programmes. In this context, the role of inclusive beekeeping has recently been considered as a potentially significant activity that can promote various psychophysical and social dimensions of an individual. However, scientific research in this area is still scarce, making it difficult to fully understand the benefits of this approach and to further adapt and expand its accessibility. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the contributions of inclusive beekeeping to different aspects of the quality of life of persons with disabilities and elderly people, as well as to offer suggestions on how to improve this activity and cater to these specific user groups. Based on a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted using a sample of 11 respondents (aged 38 -74 years) with different types of physical disabilities and chronic illnesses. The findings suggest that inclusive beekeeping may have a positive contribution to the quality of life of persons with disabilities and elderly people by improving their physical, emotional, and material well-being, as well as their interpersonal relationships and self-determination. To maximise these benefits, it is important to ensure optimal conditions for the implementation of inclusive beekeeping through various educational programmes, accessibility and assistance services, ergonomic adaptation of equipment, and financial support. These conditions would further reduce the personal and social barriers associated with participating in this activity. In addition, further research is needed to better adapt beekeeping to the specific needs and psychophysical capabilities of persons with disabilities and elderly people.