5 Ways to Make Gardening Safer and More Fun for Seniors
Spring is finally here, and it is time to get back outside and build up those gardens we neglected over the winter. Nothing makes you feel better than planting seeds and watching them grow into big, beautiful flowers, or even growing vegetables that you can eat for dinner later in the year.
Gardening is a great pastime for seniors. It is peaceful, relaxing, and fun. Some seniors, however, have trouble gardening because of all the bending over or lugging heavy bags of soil around. If you are a caregiver, never fear! There are plenty of ways to make gardening safer and more fun for your aging loved one, starting with these five ideas:
- Get longer tools – For someone with arthritis, Parkinson’s, or other conditions that make it difficult to hold things in your hands, gardening tools can be a pain. It makes it worse when they have to bend over or support themselves on one arm while they use the other to dig with one of those tiny garden shovels. This can all be improved, though, by getting gardening tools with longer handles. This way, the senior doesn’t have to bend over as far, and will have more control of the tool as they hold it in their hand.
- Raised garden beds – These are becoming more popular among gardeners everywhere, not just seniors. Garden beds can be built up by making them in wooden boxes. This not only keeps the senior from having to bend over as far and provides them with a place to sit while they’re working, but it is also said to provide better irrigation, leading to healthier plants.
- Consider a vertical garden – Planting plants that grow on a trellis or in pots hung on the side of the house can be a great way to start a garden. The senior doesn’t have to bend over to look at the plants, and it is a fun and unique way to grow them! Grapes are a great example of a plant to grow like this, as are roses.
- Garden at the right time of day – Gardening early in the morning (before 10 a.m.) or in the evenings will reduce the risk of sunburn or overheating. Just be careful to wear long sleeves if you are gardening in the evenings – a time when mosquitoes are out in full force!
- Paint gardening tools – Painting each gardening tool a different, bright color can make them easier for seniors with declining vision to see. This makes it much easier to pick out which tool they need without having to go through a process of elimination – or having to ask for help. This will allow them to feel more independent, and more at ease in their garden.
Gardening is the perfect way to get out and enjoy the springtime. Implementing just a few of these tips can make gardening even more fun for seniors (and their caregivers!), and you will all be rewarded in a few weeks or months when the yard is full of beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
If you or someone you know needs help with caregiver services in East Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source: http://agrability.missouri.edu/gardenweb/Senior.html
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