Seniors tend to get bored quickly since they have all the time in the world. However, factors such as their health concerns limit their capacities. They need something to do every day so that they stay active and fit. Should your senior member look for a hobby to do, consider getting him or her into gardening? If your senior member does not think of any hobby to do, suggest this idea. Gardening has a lot of advantages to offer, and here are some of them:
It Relieves Stress
Gardening is a well-known stress reliever—something that seniors can certainly do. This activity works wonders to soothe one’s mind and body, and you will not even have to do laborious chores. Aside from trimming and cultivating the soil around plants and regularly watering them, the rest of the tasks include talking to plants and just enjoying the scents and view. Even when you have nothing to do in the garden, just staying there and communicating with your plants can help relieve your stress. Sometimes when we feel like sharing something with someone just to relieve our stress, we can do it with plants as they are also living things.
It Helps Boost Attention Span
The capacity to focus tends to deteriorate with age, and during the twilight years, attention spans can get very low. Doing certain activities such as gardening can help your seniors focus on tasks and objectives. Since they need to finish an activity, they will be forced to think of solutions in a positive way. As previously mentioned, all the effort you put into gardening, even if it is indoor plants in terracotta planters, comes off as play rather than work. You may need to attend to the tiniest details when taking care of a plant, and this requires focus. Focus and memory are affected by the age of a person, and gardening is one way to slow down the process.
It Provides Exercise
Seniors normally need all the physical activity they can get, without stressing their minds and bodies too far. Gardening is one good way for them to have exercise. This can be as simple as bending over, sitting down, and standing up repeatedly. They will be doing a lot of physical work taking care of plants, but it is not as tiring as other activities such as dancing and jogging. Of course, there is still some degree of safety precautions in gardening, but you will not be straining your body and mind too much.
Age is just a number as the old saying goes. This statement still holds water up to this day. It is true that elderly people may not be as mobile as they used to be, but that does not mean that they just have to sit around all day long. Having something to do like gardening makes a big difference for them. Soon, your cranky old-timer will be happier as he or she sees her plants or flowers growing in the garden.
