How can gardening make older people stay healthier?

When it comes to older adults, this is very necessary to stay active and find fulfilling hobbies like Gardening to pass the time. This proves to be highly beneficial for older adults’ mental and physical health.

None wants to spend these golden years in a state where they feel unfit and bored. But with increasing age, several ailments like osteoporosis, arthritis or heart conditions can occur, which makes it challenging for the older adults to lead an active life. The senior citizens can necessarily find certain interesting hobbies which can retain them in a mentally stimulated and physically fit state without straining their bodies much. Gardening is one such hobby.

Today, we will discuss how Gardening can make old people stay healthier.

The ways by which Gardening can make old people stay healthier 

1. A good way to work out – Gardening usually increases daily activity, hand dexterity and aerobic endurance. This also helps the older adults in reducing the management of their waists. They receive a lot of exercises as they prepare the soil, water, plant, weed and, of course, harvest the veggies, flowers and fruits.
2. An emotional boost – The experts from the University of Princeton described in 2020 the mood boost that people receive from the different activities, and Gardening offers great benefits that are similar to biking, walking or even dining out. Also, the older adults can work in a community garden where their spirits can be lifted and feel greater contentment and happiness.
3. Improved nutrition – Growing veggies and fruits motivates to consume fresher, healthier food instead of artificial or processed foods. Several studies indicate that practising Gardening and growing veggies can supplement the food budget of the families as well.
4. Enhancing the immune system – With growing age, the immune system also turns weaker. A study was published in Journals of Gerontology that individuals who garden experience a lower level of “immunosenescence”, which is an age-related decline in the overall effectiveness of the immune system. Thus, adults have lower risks of infection, inflammatory diseases and cancer.
5. Mindful moments – Nature’s time is not just a figment of what we imagine. Various researches have shown that Gardening can alter the perception of time. While conducting the same, the gardeners can lose themselves for a few hours on the clock of nature and stop worrying about their day-to-day responsibilities.
6. Self-esteem – The gardeners feel they are doing something meaningful while gardening. It feels great to design a garden, grow & nurture plants, flowers and fruits etc. You can arrange for a bouquet, prepare delicious salads with the homegrown produces and share the surplus produces with your friends or a food bank. The daily practice of Gardening enhances the self-esteem of the gardeners. With increasing age, older adults usually experience lower self-esteem. So, by practising Gardening, they can boost their self-esteem big time.
7. Spending more time outdoors – Several studies indicate several benefits of spending quality time amid greenery and fresh air. People who practise Gardening tend to spend more quality time outdoors. While the older adults can use sunscreen to protect their skin from the harmful UV rays, also it is crucial to expose oneself to the sunlight to get the optimum dose of Vitamin D.
8. Promoting brain health – Gardening plays a remarkable role in reducing the risks of dementia in the older adults. Thus, there are lesser chances of brain damage, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease & depression.

The above points strongly reveal how Gardening can make older adults stay healthier. So, older adults should get into the habit of Gardening to retain their good health and well-being.