Hobbies don't have to be a solo activity. Gardening is a great hobby for families to embrace together. Your mom and dad want to be more active. They have the space for a garden. Why not join them and create a family garden?
Gardening is an excellent hobby to engage in at all ages. It offers several benefits. Here are four of the ways gardening benefits your well-being.
Exercise
Gardening is a good way for older adults to get exercise. Bending over to pull weeds and standing back up helps strengthen muscles in the back, hips, and back of the thighs. Digging the soil to prepare it for planting uses the muscles in the backs, arms, and legs. Walking around the rows looking for produce to harvest is also exercise.
There are several other ways for your parents and others in the family to get exercise while gardening. Pushing a heavy wheelbarrow to a compost pile to dump weeds and scraps is a workout. Raking soil even works the arms and shoulders. Bending over to dig holes or rows and plant vegetables also stretches the muscles.
Fresh Air and Sun
Spending time in nature has proven to boost your mood. Gardening has you outside in the fresh air. It's a beneficial way to get vitamin D from the sun.
Why vitamin D? It's an essential component to having strong bones. People don't always get enough of it. Instead of taking supplements, spending 10 to 30 minutes in the sun can help your body absorb the necessary amount.
Healthy Foods
If your parents have a hard time with nutrition, a garden helps. They're able to save money on grocery bills by growing their produce. They may end up with too much, but that's okay. They can freeze it to last through the winter or sell it from a stand in their front yard. They can also donate it to food shelves and soup kitchens.
Ideally, your parents want to eat around six servings of fruits and vegetables each day. A garden makes this a realistic goal. Grow strawberries and freeze the extras for quick breakfast smoothies. Plant their favorite vegetables and have them on hand for snacks and meals.
Don't worry about struggling to get things to grow. Cucumbers, green beans, and pea pods do well in most soils and require little care beyond weeding and watering.
Self-Esteem
Poor self-esteem happens at any age. If your parents are down and don't feel valuable after retirement, their self-esteem is likely taking a hit.
When you grow a garden, each piece of produce helps you feel a sense of accomplishment. The more you grow, the more your self-esteem grows.
You should also look into caregivers to help your parents stay active and feel important. Caregivers can take your parents shopping and keep them company the whole time. Your parents gain socialization with their caregiver while the caregiver helps with gardening, meals, housework, and other daily tasks. Call to learn more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Sandy, 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.
