March 30, 2010

HERE ARE A FEW GOOD GARDENING TIPS FOR OUR ACTIVE IN HOME SENIORS, THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND PRIVATE PERSONAL CARE COMPANIONS FROM COMFORT KEEPERS HERE IN WALLINGFORD, CT

By Carol Carbutti

The aspects of gardening for a senior will benefit their health while being therapeutic and help them to stay active and productive.

Gardening in itself is an enjoyable pastime and an excellent form of exercise for mobility, flexibility, use of motor skills while helping to improve strength and endurance. This type of physical activity for our healthy aging seniors also helps to prevent osteoporosis while reducing their stress levels for a better nights rest.

A few good words of advice for our elderly parents who garden is to warm up by doing a few stretches before starting any gardening activities. By doing this, they will help reduce any muscle soreness they may experience later on.

Family caregivers and private companions need to remind their at home aging clients to drink plenty of liquids (avoiding alcohol), to keep their body well hydrated.  Home care helpers need to make sure that they take care of their seniors’ cuts, bruises scrapes and insect bites right away to help avoid infection.  Retiree’s should try to work in the garden early in the morning or late in the day to avoid blazing midday sun and heat which can make even the healthiest senior ill or weary.  Caregivers should remind their elderly parents or clients to wear comfortable clothes and shoes while working in the yard or garden.  They should also add a hat, gloves and sunscreen to protect them from sun damage.

However, in addition to these tips, it is also important to know their limitations. When senior clients start to feel fatigued, they need to take a break for a few moments or ask you for some assistance. Also, retired baby boomers can try rotating their gardening tasks every half hour or so.  By rotating their tasks they may cause less stress on their muscles and become less uncomfortable later on.  It is important to purchase tools that are ergonomically designed to reduce strain and injury.  Your senior gardener will notice that these tools are lightweight and sturdy with longer handles for leverage, thus giving better control.

Every spring our healthy aging seniors need to check their tools to see if they are sharp, well oiled, and in good working condition. This will help avoid resistance when using them and cut down on the manpower needed to execute certain tasks. Remember to remind your elderly parents that proper body positioning will minimize muscle soreness and fatigue.

Here are a few extra safety tips and easy steps that active seniors can use while gardening to avoid injury and minor aches and pains.  It is so important to remember to bend at the knees and hips to help avoid injury.  Be careful with power tools because even the smallest ones can become a burden in worn and weary hands.    Elderly seniors should try to work below shoulder level when possible and keep their elbows partially bent while gardening.  Definitely avoid twisting the forearm back and forth by having your Aging retiree work with their hands in a neutral position. 

 

If bending is a problem then your Elderly retiree should try to plant vertical or raised garden beds to avoid stooping.  If your elderly parent wants to start a new garden, they should try to put it in a location that has shaded areas if possible. Finally, if memory abilities, such as dementia, are becoming affected, secure gates and fences can be an enormous advantage by helping to keep seniors secure while still allowing them to indulge in gardening.

 

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