Gardening is an amazing pastime for people of all ages, however, it can be an especially great pastime for seniors and aging adults. Seniors often are limited in what they can do, this is often due to their ability to get around, their fixed income, and simply what they are comfortable doing in their golden years. Many seniors feel comfortable doing things around their home, so gardening is a great thing to start; not only will it keep a senior busy, it will also leave a gorgeous end result.
If you are a senior that is thinking about getting into gardening, there are some things you need to know. This post will detail 4 simple and easy tips to keep in mind as you start gardening this season.
What You Need to Know As You Garden as a Senior
An expert from a company that specializes in in-home senior care pointed out that seniors that live at home or in a senior living facility have the option to the garden. She pointed out that gardening is something seniors can do alone, or with friends and family. Whether you want to start an elaborate, lush garden, or you simply want to plant a few flowers, here is what you need to know if you are a senior and are looking into starting a beautiful garden.
Wear the Appropriate Clothing
This is perhaps one of the most important things to keep in mind as you begin gardening as a senior. Wearing the appropriate clothing will protect you from the sun, and will help you regulate your body temperature. As a senior, you want to avoid getting sunburned or getting dehydrated from the sun. Be sure to choose clothing that will cover your body, making sure that you aren’t being exposed to too much sun.
Likewise, be sure to choose light clothing that will cover your body. If you choose clothing that is too thick, you will overheat and put yourself at risk of a heat stroke. For females, consider light and loose blouses, and for males, consider a loose-fitting shirt that is made of thin material.
Get the Best Price on Your Plants and Flowers
As you decide what you want to plant, do some research to make sure that you are getting the best prices on your plants and flowers. Oftentimes, stores will mark up their plants and flowers, charging unfair prices because store owners know that people will pay them. Though this isn’t fair to any shopper, it is especially unfair to seniors on a fixed income.
To ensure you are getting the best price on plants and flowers, look online at multiple stores and try to shop at farmer’s markets. Farmer’s markets are usually much cheaper so you can get more for your money.
Get Up and Down Often
As you physically garden, make it a point to get up and down often so that your joints are not overworking in certain positions. It’s common for seniors to have joint, muscle, or bone issues/pain, and sitting and kneeling in certain positions for too long can aggravate your body and give you more issues/pain. Or, you may not be able to get back up.
Move around often and get up and walk around frequently. Perhaps every 20-30 minutes walk inside to cool down then walk back out.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is something that many people forget about when it comes to gardening. Hydration is key for people of all ages but as a senior, you need to make more of an active effort to stay hydrated so that you don’t have a heat stroke. Bring a bottle of water out with you and try to take small sips every few minutes. Also, be sure to drink a lot of water before gardening as you will most likely sweat right away.
Be sure to fill your bottle of water often and if you begin to feel dehydrated (such as feelings of lightheadedness, nausea, weakness, etc), call for help or ask the person that is with you to go get help.
Create Your Gorgeous Garden Today
No matter the kind of garden you decided to create, big or small, keep these tips in mind so that your gardening experience is as great as it can be. Gardening may become your new favorite hobby as it is therapeutic, beneficial, and overall a good time. Begin your gorgeous garden today so it’s ready for the summer.
About the Author
Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.
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