Easy Gardening Tips for Seniors and Their Caregivers with Home Care Services Foothills
With the weather getting warmer, there are even more opportunities to spend time outdoors. For many people, gardening is the outdoor activity of choice, and people get involved either at home or in a community garden. It’s easy to understand why gardening is so popular - it can be a great social activity while also being inexpensive and therapeutic. Gardening also offers the chance for people to get some exercise and go outside.
Our senior loved ones can enjoy many benefits from gardening, but gardening isn’t always an easy task. This can be especially true as we grow older and our bodies change. Our joints get stiffer, and bending to plant seeds or pull weeds gets a little harder.
All the physical activity gardening requires can present a challenge to our senior loved ones. Through our home care services Foothills, we provide companionship for seniors along with assistance in carrying out daily activities and household tasks.
Here is some information from our senior care Okotoks team on why gardening is beneficial for seniors, as well as some senior-friendly gardening tips to help seniors enjoy this highly rewarding activity.
The Benefits of Gardening Activities for Seniors
Gardening offers many mental and physical health benefits to people of all ages who take up this hobby. It can provide physical activity and mental stimulation while also offering a wide range of health and social benefits.
Exercise: Adults aged 65 and older are generally advised to take part in at least two and a half hours of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. Gardening is a great form of fun, aerobic exercise. For seniors receiving senior care Okotoks, engaging in light gardening activities can be an enjoyable and beneficial way to stay active while improving overall well-being.
Vitamin D Boost: Spending some time in the sun while gardening can help boost vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is needed for building and maintaining healthy bones and regulates other important functions in our bodies too.
Combat Health Conditions: There are a range of health benefits that gardening is thought to provide. Gardening is widely accepted as a great way to lower stress levels and increase feelings of happiness. It is also thought to help combat depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Many seniors in senior care Okotoks have found gardening to be a natural way to relieve stress and enhance cognitive function, particularly for those dealing with age-related conditions. One study even found that daily gardening may reduce the risk of dementia by up to 36%.
Social Connection: It’s important for seniors to stay socially active as this can help promote better mental health and physical health. Connecting with other gardeners, gardening with a friend, or being part of a community gardening group can help enrich a senior’s social life. Senior care Okotoks encourages seniors to engage in gardening groups or community projects, fostering meaningful social interactions that contribute to emotional well-being.
Making Gardening More Accessible for Seniors with Foothills Caregivers
There are a number of ways to ensure that your senior loved one can safely enjoy tending to their garden, from thoughtfully selecting the gardening tools they have at their disposal to improving garden access for them.
1. Manage Sun and Heat Exposure
Being outdoors while gardening is a great way for a senior to get their daily dose of vitamin D, but it’s important to make sure that they don’t risk sunburn, dehydration, or sunstroke. Foothills caregivers recommend gardening in the morning or evening when it’s cooler outside, staying hydrated, wearing sun protection, and taking regular breaks.
2. Remove Fall Hazards for a Safer Gardening Experience
From roots sticking out of the ground to branches scattered around the lawn, there can be many fall hazards in your senior loved one’s garden. Addressing these can help make sure the senior in your life can safely enjoy accessible gardening for elderly individuals. Our professional caregivers can help your senior loved one move in and around their home, increasing their safety by addressing fall hazards.
3. Protect Hands and Joints While Gardening
Thinning skin can make older people more susceptible to bruises, bumps, and sunburn. Adequate sun protection and addressing fall hazards can make the garden a safer place. A pair of durable gardening gloves can protect your senior loved one’s hands and arms from thorns, branches, and sharp gardening tools. Additionally, senior home care professionals recommend using knee pads to protect joints when kneeling.
4. Work on Ease of Access with Raised Beds and Container Gardening
Many plants are easily adaptable to senior-friendly gardening setups like raised beds or container gardening. With a raised garden bed, for example, your senior loved one can garden without kneeling or bending as the plants they’re tending to will be right at their level. Vertical planting could also make garden beds more accessible for seniors, ensuring they can continue enjoying gardening activities for seniors with ease. This approach to accessible gardening for elderly individuals makes gardening a joyful and safe activity for all.
5. Provide Helpful Tools for Effortless Gardening
There are a number of tools that can help make gardening more comfortable for your senior loved one. If your senior loved one is going to be kneeling while gardening, protective knee pads can help cushion their joints while keeping their knees dry and clean. Lightweight gardening tools are often easier to handle, and having a portable seat on standby can provide a resting place while they move around their garden.
Bringing Gardening Indoors for Seniors with Limited Mobility
Limited mobility may make it difficult for some of our senior loved ones to get outdoors to the garden. Seniors who don’t have access to an outdoor garden don’t have to miss out on the joys of gardening. There are a number of indoor gardening ideas that can help seniors reap the benefits of gardening without going outside, such as:
Creating a terrarium: Small, low-maintenance plants in glass containers bring a touch of nature indoors.
Growing herbs in the kitchen: Easy-to-grow herbs like basil, parsley, and mint are great for indoor gardening.
Painting and decorating terracotta pots: A creative way to personalize indoor gardening spaces.
How Home Care Services Foothills Supports Seniors with Gardening
As we grow older, it’s natural to need extra support with activities in and around the house that we once found easy. Home care services Foothills is available to offer help in all areas of your senior loved one’s life. Our caregivers provide senior home care services that ensure seniors can continue enjoying their hobbies safely and comfortably.
With our senior care Okotoks services, our professional caregivers can assist with:
Gardening tasks, such as lifting, watering, and planting.
Ensuring fall hazards are minimized to promote safety.
Encouraging participation in gardening activities for seniors as part of their routine.
Contact Foothills Caregivers for Senior Gardening Support
If your senior loved one could use a helping hand as they participate in a hobby they love, connect with us today. Foothills caregivers are here to provide compassionate, expert care that helps seniors continue engaging in the activities they cherish while ensuring safety, accessibility, and overall well-being.
For more than 20 years, Foothills Home Services has been a trusted name in home care throughout the Foothills region. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including home care for seniors in High River, senior care in Okotoks, and specialized Palliative Care in Okotoks.
Our team of compassionate caregivers is committed to providing personalized care that meets the unique needs of each client. From assistance with daily activities to 24-hour care, we're here to support you or your loved one every step of the way. We believe that everyone deserves to age with dignity and independence in their own home.
Experience the difference that professional, caring support can make. Reach out to Foothills Home Services today to book your complimentary consultation and learn more about our Home Care Services in High River.
