Five Reasons Seniors Might Want to Start a Garden

Gardening offers so many benefits for the people who give it a try, from ensuring people have access to fresh fruits and vegetables to helping gardeners stay physically and mentally healthy. Seniors in particular may find that they experience more benefits than they expect from starting their own garden. They don’t have to do it alone, either. Companion care at home can keep seniors company when they decide they want to start a small garden of their own.

Exercise at Home

Getting a little bit of movement in every day is so important for helping seniors maintain good health. Gardening involves light activity that can give seniors a pretty decent workout. If seniors aren’t cleared for cardio workouts, they may need to take it a little easier if they decide to start their own garden. But in general, if they’ve been cleared to get exercise in, seniors should be able to keep up with their gardens.

Maintaining Manual Dexterity

Seniors may find that as they get older, they have more difficulty maintaining manual dexterity for a variety of reasons. Pain in the joints, arthritis, and other issues may affect both fine and gross motor skills. Gardening on a regular basis can be a great way for seniors to exercise their hands. As their hands grow stronger, they may experience less pain in those joints.

Beating Stress

Getting outside and doing things with their hands is a fantastic way for seniors to improve their overall moods and beat stress. Gardening produces results, too, that seniors can benefit from right away. Spending time outside allows seniors to get some sun, some fresh air, and some vitamin D. Working alongside home care providers also gives them someone to talk to, further improving emotional wellness.

Providing a Sense of Accomplishment

One of the reasons seniors might become bored and have trouble as they age in place involves losing a sense of purpose or accomplishment. With a garden, seniors get to see the literal fruits of their labor. They tend to plants and then experience the results. This is tremendously rewarding and seniors may find that it’s a lot of fun to expand their original goals and try new things.

Social Engagement

There are lots of ways seniors might combine gardening with social engagement. If they decide to start a container garden or a larger garden of their own, companion care at home can offer friendly assistance along the way. Another option is for seniors to take part in a community garden, where seniors get to meet their neighbors and contribute to the larger garden. Companion caregivers can offer assistance with transportation and keep seniors company as they garden, no matter where that is.

Even if seniors haven’t been gardeners in the past, that can change without a lot of effort on their part. Gardening offers so many different benefits that seniors can enjoy. Companion care at home offers the emotional support that seniors can rely on for consistent support and friendly conversation when they need it the most.

If you or an aging loved one are considering companion care at home in Yonkers, NY, please contact the caring staff at Griswold Home Care for Scarsdale & Yonkers today. (914) 337-5028.