Gospodarstwa opiekuńcze jako perspektywiczny kierunek rozwoju usług społecznych w środowisku wiejskim
Care farms as a prospective direction for the development of social services in the rural environment

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present the issue of the development of social services in rural areas in Poland based on the resources and infrastructure of farms. The study is an attempt to capture the essence of social farming, with particular emphasis on care farms and defining their role in the ru-ral environment. The article presents initiatives undertaken by the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Center and the Agricultural Advisory Center in Brwinów. Pilot projects implemented in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship are an example of an innovative solution in the field of senior pol-icy and supporting people with intellectual disabilities, while the experiences related to the operation of the Educational Farm Network emphasize the important role of farms in the education process. The article combines theoretical considerations with a description of practical solutions. A care farm is a special type of social agriculture, combining the multifunctionality of farms with care and health services and, at the same time, social entrepreneurship. An important element in care agriculture is the use of the farm’s potential to conduct therapeutic, caring and integrative activities. Socially infolved agriculture is a chance for farmers to provide new services and thus expand and diversify their activities and a multifunctional role in society. The possibility of conducting additional activity in many farms will improve the economic situation of entire local communities. In addition, the num-ber and level of social services offered in rural areas will also increase. Care farms play an important role in the context of challenges related to aging societies, resulting in limited labor resources and an increase in the number of people requiring support (disabled, at risk of exclusion, seniors). The devel-opment of care farms will improve the quality of life in rural areas and solve the problems of inequality in access to social services. To achieve the aim of the study, the analysis of subject literature and source materials as well as the descriptive and comparative method were used as research methods.

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