5 Reasons why elders should consider Gardening Therapy

The natural aging process has a profound impact on the lives of elders as it reduces their physical strength and mental capabilities making them slower. This transition is indeed challenging as the once vivacious, versatile and robust adult transforms into a senior citizen with a fragile body and demanding health conditions. The exploding senior population also calls for exploration of restorative settings and opportunities for keeping elders physically active without making them feel exhausted and bored.

Gardening therapy is one such promising approach that includes both physical therapy and cognitive therapy naturally. It engages seniors with good exercise through enjoyable means in familiar surroundings and enhances the quality of their lives. Senior care facilities and home care providers encourage this activity for the well-being of elders. Healthabove60, an exclusive geriatric provider of home care services supports the elderly clients holistically to stay healthy and independent through such simple yet effective therapies. Its other service offerings include home nursing care, blood sample collection and doctor visits, post-operative care and physiotherapy services in Chennai.

 5 Major Reasons for considering Gardening Therapy

 

      Enhanced relief from pain - Exposure to sunshine and bright air not only elevates the spirits of elders but also makes them physically fit. Stepping out into the garden and digging the soil aids in reducing pain symptoms even if seniors are suffering from stiff joints or arthritis. That is so because gardening increases your mobility and flexibility in a natural setting and diverts the mind away from the discomfort of pains and aches. Research also reveals that patients recover faster after hospitalization or illness when they are exposed to nature and need less medical intervention due to its natural healing properties.

 

     Excellent method of exercising - Gardening serves as a good way of exercising the body and being physically active effortlessly. The tasks involved in this activity like weeding, planting, pruning and watering the plants and trees call for plenty of movements. Besides, simply walking around the plants in your garden increases the well-being by increasing mobility, balancing and coordination and exercises the lungs and heart. The fresh air also rejuvenates the body organs as the oxygen supply is boosted. Gardening is also a reliable means of controlling blood sugar thereby giving diabetes relief.

 

         Better cognitive focus and acuity - The flowers, greenery and other living beings like butterflies and birds in the garden are full of attractive colours, textures, odours and sounds. These provide a powerful stimulation to attract and energize the involuntary attention of elders. It also encourages the mind to wander to the imaginary and pleasant world and calms it down. Simultaneously, the mental energy is conserved for activities that call for voluntary attention and concentration. Gardening also enhances concentration and increases attention span while thwarting symptoms of memory loss, disorientation and dementia.

 

     Decreased stress and anxiety - Exposure to nature in the garden modifies the ways our bodies react to stress by creating a positive impact. Elders who are worried about their health problems, loneliness, loss of independence and have mental ailments like depression and Alzheimer’s disease can be greatly benefitted from this optimistic response. Nature’s serenity and beauty also foster a better sense of security and belonging thereby avoiding boredom and promoting a feeling of safety.

 

      Increased independence and freedom - The ageing process is difficult for most elders as they feel suffocated with their limited abilities. That creates a sense of loss of freedom, independence and confidence as they become more dependent. By doing tasks like planting seeds, pruning, weeding and trimming on their own, elders can regain the lost self-worth. Eating home-grown vegetables and fruits also increase joy and satisfaction. They can even use the garden flowers for decoration and bouquet-making which gives a sense of tremendous achievement.

 

Tips for Safe Gardening

●  Tend the garden in the early mornings and late evenings when the temperatures are cooler to escape from sunstroke attacks.

●   Keep yourself well-hydrated while gardening especially if you have to do the watering or weeding in hot weather.

● Wear protective gear like gardening gloves, sunglasses, sturdy shoes and a wide-brimmed hat to evade injuries.

●  Ensure that the water source is nearby for irrigation if there is not sufficient rainfall to avoid overexertion.

Store the gardening tools properly to prevent trips and falls.