Gardening is a great pastime for seniors to engage in. Not only is it a good form of exercise, it also has been linked with health benefits like a decreased risk of dementia. It also boosts mood and helps prevent loneliness. But, as good as gardening is for your aging relative, some aspects of it may be hard for seniors to do on their own. Caregivers can make gardening easy for older adults by helping them to find tools that are designed for ease of use. Below are 6 tools that can make gardening easier for seniors.
#1: Rolling Garden Seat
Kneeling or sitting on the ground can lead to painful joints. It can also be hard for seniors to get up on their own, requiring help from caregivers to stand. A rolling garden seat allows older adults to sit comfortably and move down the rows without standing up. The seats also have space to carry a few tools, too.
#2: Tools with Ergonomic Handles
Look for tools with handles that are designed to be easier and more comfortable to hold. The handles may have a bend in them, which makes them easier for seniors with less hand strength to use. The curve lets them put their body weight behind them, so they can dig holes and pull weeds. The handles are also wider, so they are easier for people with arthritis to grasp.
#3: Wand Hose Attachment
Carrying watering cans and buckets filled with water may be difficult for seniors. A wand attachment for the hose can make watering less work. The wand attachment also eliminates the need to bend or kneel to get water where it is needed. That helps caregivers, too, because you won’t have to carry those heavy watering cans for your older family member!
#4: Long-Handled Weeder
You can purchase weeders that are designed to be used while standing up. The senior pokes them into the ground and steps on the foot pedal to force the weeder into the ground. Then just twist and pull.
#5: Garden Kneeler
If your aging relative prefers to kneel in the garden, they might like a garden kneeler. It has a surface to kneel on, keeping knees from getting wet or kneeling on rocks. There are also metal bars to hold on to while getting up. The kneeler can be flipped over to serve as a bench, too.
#6: Raised Garden Bed
If getting down to the ground is too difficult or painful, gardening isn’t necessarily out as a hobby. Consider using a raised gardening bed instead. Raised beds don’t require kneeling to reach the plants. And, there’s less weeding involved because the plants aren’t in the ground where weeds can encroach. Caregivers will love the ease afforded with a raised bed as the senior can do most of the work without help.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Cottonwood Heights, UT, contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.
Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT
Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.
