Gardening is a beneficial hobby for the body, mind, and spirit. However, older adults with mobility issues may find traditional gardens challenging. But with the right adaptations, you can make accessible gardens for Senior Citizens.
Don’t let mobility issues and reduced stamina get in the way of enjoying a great garden. You can use stand-up gardens, easy-care plants, and adaptive tools to make gardening accessible for everyone.
Table Of Contents
- What type of garden is easiest for elderly people to use?
- Ergonomic Tools
- Garden Seats
- Stand-up Hand Tools
What type of garden is easiest for elderly people to use?
Stand-up beds, container gardens, and vertical gardening make reaching plants easier. You can use a combination of different types to make accessible gardens for Senior Citizens.
Accessible Gardens for Senior Citizens
As we get older, limited mobility can make it hard to enjoy gardening. It isn’t easy to bend and reach those in-ground beds. Fortunately, some simple ways exist to create accessible gardens for Senior Citizens, such as containers, vertical gardens, and stand-up beds. Try starting small with a few low-maintenance plants on the porch. Then you can grow your garden by adding more containers and beds.
- Get Creative with Containers — A collection of pots and planters makes for a simple patio garden.
- Go Vertical — Plants growing on trellises and poles are easier to tend than those on the ground.
- Stand-up Gardens — You can get elevated beds that stand around 3 or 4 feet high.
Easy Care Plants
Low-maintenance plants make gardening more accessible for older adults to manage. For example, perennials return year after year, so you don’t need to get new plants each spring. Flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils do well in pots. Geraniums are another flower that grows in containers with little effort.
For vegetable lovers, vining plants such as cucumbers and beans grow well on trellises for vertical gardens. Likewise, tomatoes and peppers are well-suited for containers. Lettuce and kale are cold hearty veggies that grow well in New Jersey. You can even grow herbs by your kitchen window year-round.
Adaptive Gardening Tools
Gardening involves a lot of bending, kneeling, and digging. However, the right tools make things easier on your knees, back, and wrist. Senior Citizens can overcome these obstacles with the help of ergonomic tools, garden seats, and stand-up hand tools.
Ergonomic Tools
A trowel with a perfectly straight handle is hard to hold comfortably. However, ergonomic tools are designed to fit your grip. Well-designed garden devices put less pressure on joints and give you better leverage. Look for lightweight tools with:
- Two-handed grips
- Looped or curved handles
- Non-slip silicone grips
- Ratcheting gears
- Rotating handles
Garden Seats
Lightweight, adjustable height seating supports the body while working low to the ground. In addition, you can find collapsible kneelers with pouches for tools and rolling garden chairs to move around easily.
Stand-up Hand Tools
Avoid bending over and save your back by using long-handled tools such as a stand-up weed puller. In addition, using a water wand hose attachment is much easier than lugging a heavy watering can around, plus you can douse hanging plants without taking them down.
In-Home Senior Care
When gardening becomes too difficult, you can make accessible gardens for Senior Citizens so they can keep doing what they love. The same can be said for aging in place — a little extra help around the house goes a long way. The caring CHHHAs at Anita’s Angels, Inc. support our clients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, medication reminders and light housework. We are Families Helping Families. Let’s talk about how our family can help yours — call 908-788-9390.
