Although gardening is a hobby of a significant number of people and people of different ages enjoy doing it, when a person reaches a certain age, gardening becomes more than just a hobby. Gardening is beneficial for the elderly in many ways. Gardening doesn’t only calm and soothe the nerves but also has a lot of physical benefits.
Here are a few points on why gardening is beneficial for the elderly?
Good exercise!
Exercise is important in old age and elderly people usually don’t have enough stamina to do the gym every day. Gardening can provide the opportunity to do plenty of fun exercise which is enough for elderly people.
Pulling weeds and looking after the garden burns up to 400 calories. While gardening one can do all the bending, squatting, stretching, and pulling to stay healthy.
Strengthen the muscles
A little time spent in gardening can give a body full workout. It helps in strengthening the muscles and one can do full-body exercises along with enjoying his favorite hobby.
Good for health
Staying close to green trees directly provides oxygen to the lungs, which is good for health. It helps in slowing aging and keeps a person fit and healthy. Seeing fresh plants daily freshens the mind and eyes. If you need to hire a tree expert for your garden in Austin, TX here is the place to look.
Vitamin D
Our body makes vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and the deficiency of vitamin D in our body can cause weak bones and joint pains. A little exposure to sunlight while gardening can help our body in preparing vitamin D.
Reduces Stress
Gardening is an excellent exercise to reduce stress and keep you busy and happy. It helps in regulating the mind and body synchronization. Gardening doesn’t only increase hand-eye coordination but also lowers the production of the stress-producing hormone, cortisol. Furthermore, it elevates the production of serotonin which calms the mind and puts you in a good mood.
Saves them from brain-damaging diseases
Gardening keeps the elderly busy and indulged in thinking about their activities in the garden like how are their plants growing? When will they sow new seeds when the time comes for flowers to bloom?
Overall, gardening keeps drawing positive attention from the elderly, which keeps their brain is working and reduces the risks of Alzheimer’s.
Keeps them busy
Old age comes with its benefits and intricacies. A person can enjoy retirement and free time, but on the other hand, these people need more attention and time, especially from younger people who are already busy in their own lives.
Gardening provides them with a healthy habit that keeps them involved and active. Instead of indulging in negative thoughts, it instills positivity and happiness in older people, which is good for both their psychological and physical health.
Give them a feeling of independence
With old age, a person starts depending on others due to lack of stamina and physical capacity. Senior citizens don’t feel good about it. They want to feel that strength and sense of independence again.
Gardening provides them with the opportunity to feel so. They can become king of their land and grow whatever they want to. There are many helping gardening tools that they can easily handle. Like, for older people there are gardening stools which they can use if they feel tired, before buying one should check the pros and cons of different tools. Managing their gardening activities all by themselves ingrains a sense of command in them. Deep in their heart, they feel powerful and independent again.
Keeps them conscious about their well being
While gardening a person needs certain safety standards like wearing sunscreen and hats or staying away from tools that can be hazardous. The need and effort to stay safe and healthy unconsciously keep training their mind about getting care for their health.
Makes them punctual and organized
In elderly age, punctuality has its benefits like exercising daily, taking medicines on time, and keeping things in order. For example, gardening tools need to be well organized to avoid a mess, especially if they are used regularly. Placing and storing things in order makes elderly people organized. A daily routine of managing gardening compels them to be punctual and they apply this punctuality in other things also.
It is a productive hobby after all
Gardening is not just a time pass. In the end, it delivers blossoms and fruits. Instead of wasting time in less productive things or doing something that doesn’t give a return, gardening is a much better option. The older people feel satisfied and see themselves as productive citizens.
Overall, gardening is a healthy hobby for elderly people, and those who pursue it stays fit, healthy, and happy. But safety and ease are important and must be a priority.
