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Gardening and the Elderly
1/7/2008
Linda Langelo
Horticulture Program
Coordinator
Colorado State University Extension
Golden Plains
Area |
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As we age our youthful flexibility, strength and endurance is
replaced with stiffness, soreness, vision impairment and shortness of breath.
It is wise to think about revising or reducing the garden plan especially if
you have an acre or more.
What we might want to do in the garden during
our retired years takes the same lifting, bending, kneeling and twisting as it
did before. Now, however, the repetitive motions can become increasingly
difficult. We could pay someone else to do the difficult labor, but there goes
the fun and sense of accomplishment for ourselves. Besides, we may have a tight
budget and may not wish to spend our retirement money to pay someone else to do
our gardening.
Gardens are great for exercise no matter what age. The
elderly need to rethink how to do the gardening and what they want to do.
Besides some of the obvious physical obstacles like dealing with
arthritis or osteoporosis, there are a number of other important health issues
to keep in mind. Watch exposure to UV light. The older you become, the fewer
defenses your body has for cellular repair against UV damage.
Your
internal thermostat is slower and the need to add a layer or remove a layer of
clothing is not as keen. Living in a semi-arid climate, dehydration is of
greater importance as is the possibility of sunstroke.
We lose the
ability to keep our balance due to vision, hormones or even blood pressure and
falling becomes an issue. It becomes difficult to remind yourself not to stand
up too quickly or resume a standing position after bending over. You could
become dizzy, faint or even pass out.
Why garden with all the
challenges of getting older? One reason could be that there is more time to
garden in retirement. Gardening reduces stress and keeps one active. Naturally,
if you have grown your own vegetables you will still have access to that type
of fresh food. For some, growing their food helps to save money. If you are
used to canning or freezing what you grow, there is a source of food year
round. You know the nutritional value and you know who is growing the food and
how it is grown.
An important factor to consider before doing any
garden is how much exercise you want. Then, ask yourself, how active? Raised
beds, smaller enclosed spaces, or even using containers or window boxes can be
helpful in reducing body motion and stress. With less agility and lack of our
full range of motion, a raised bed or container garden lessons the need for
bending down so far or the length of time being outdoors.
It pays to
think about what you, as an individual, can accomplish and want in a garden.
Look at the different levels of mobility and match them to your interests and
skills. Can you kneel for great lengths of time? Can you twist and turn without
a problem? Can you lift or push heavy loads in a wheelbarrow?
There are
special tools to help assist with gardening. Ergonomic tools have specially
shaped handles to help reduce the stress of repetitive motions.
Besides
tools, be creative. Try the container hydroponic gardens. Get the family
involved by teaching the grandchildren to garden. If you do not have
grandchildren, reach out to youth in your area and become a mentor.
No
matter what age, gardening is therapeutic and healing. It provides peace and
tranquility. For those who love to garden, keeping a garden going gives one a
sense of purpose. One stays motivated and keeps morale
positive.
Gardening helps those who suffer from depression. There are
bacteria in the soil that help fight depression. Studies show that residents in
assisted living places heal faster if the residents have a tree or natural
setting to view rather than a building.
Other studies show that spending
time looking at a tree helps lower blood pressure. This makes sense since the
color green on the color wheel is a cool color that creates a calming effect in
any environment.
Whether viewing a garden or being active by pulling
weeds in a garden, both have advantages for our health. Being cautious about
the pitfalls of gardening while we age, makes us sensible about how to be more
efficient and still stay active. |
Page Created and Maintained by: Perry D. Brewer, Area
Extension Agent (Technology Education/Youth)
7/17/2008 |
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