When my father was finally able to retire at the age of 65, he decided to devote his time to gardening. He had a lovely tiny fenced-in backyard that he used to tend to daily.
It was a hobby he thoroughly liked for 20 years until he almost slipped in the yard one day. I wanted to assist him in continuing his gardening, but we needed to ensure it was safe for him to do so.
On top of learning about best gardening practices for older adults, I started looking into gardening safety for seniors as well.
If you or your elderly loved ones have had to reduce the amount of time they spent in their garden or have had to stop altogether because it isn’t safe for them any longer, keep reading because we will give you some great tips on how you can help them restart (or start!) their gardening journey.
Safety Tips For Senior Gardening
The first and most important step is to make it accessible. This entails constructing a walkway that they can navigate using a cane, walker, or wheelchair. Of course, the optimum answer is a solid cement walkway, but this may be rather pricey.
Handling gardening equipment might be challenging for some elders. You’ll want to seek ergonomic tools with larger-than-normal, non-slippery handles. (But not so big that it’s too much for your old mother or father to handle.) You should also think about how heavy the instrument is.
Container Gardening Tips
Now, there are just a few suggestions I can provide to make container gardening safer for your loved ones.
The first point I’d want to make is that if you’re making a container garden for your loved one, make sure the container is large enough for them to not trip over or knock it over. If these containers must be moved, it is preferable to utilize a lightweight product or container.
Make sure the positioning of these containers is such that you won’t have to reach too far to water or care for the plants.
Why Is Gardening Good For Seniors?
To begin, I want to encourage you to do everything you can to keep your senior loved one involved in their favorite activity of gardening, simply because it is so good for them mentally and physically. Just make sure you talk to your doctor about any risks or restrictions that should be followed.
Gardening has several health advantages that are obvious in any community that engages in this enjoyable pastime. However, the benefits may have a bigger impact on elders.
Gardening is a good activity for seniors since it improves their physical and mental health. Physically, gardening is a low-impact activity that increases flexibility through stretching and bending the body. It also helps with strength and endurance.
Mentally, the fresh air and sunshine that simply going outside provides are extremely beneficial in lowering tension and anxiety.
But in addition to just being outside, gardening is one of many creative ways to stay active and fit and provides purpose which plays a significant role in improving one’s level of happiness and life satisfaction.
But, in addition to just being outside, gardening gives a project with a goal, which contributes significantly to one’s pleasure and life satisfaction.
