As someone gets older it can become more difficult to keep active and remain mentally stimulated. Gardening is a great way for older people to increase their well-being and promote positive ageing. Gardening is also a good way to keep social and reduce stress. It is for these reasons and the reasons explained below that at Bernash Care Home we make sure our residents have the opportunity to garden if they wish to.
1. PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Gardening is a great way for elderly people to keep active. It can include bending, lifting and stretching, and can be adapted to all mobility levels. The regular physical exercise which elderly people can get from gardening can help to prevent osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, depression and many other ailments in ageing adults. Gardening can help keep joints and bones strong and even positively affect balance and reduce the likelihood of falls.Â
Though there are many physical benefits to gardening it is important that you and your loved one know their limits and do not allow overworking. This can be difficult to keep track of in the home when an elderly person may be unsupervised for periods of time. At Bernash Care Home there is gardening supervision from staff who understand the importance of getting to know the residents and their capabilities. Â
2. MENTAL STIMULATION
Gardening is not only a great way to keep the body active, but also the mind. Whether it’s learning new facts and information about plants or recalling previous knowledge from many years ago. Keeping the mind active can lessen the effects of ageing on the brain. It is not just gardening that is great for this. Any new hobby or activity can be great for brain health, at Bernash Care Home we can offer our residents a variety of safe activities to try.
3. REDUCED STRESS AND OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS
Regular gardening can reduce stress-causing cortisol and increase serotonin production, which is a calming neurochemical inducing a positive mood. This can be especially beneficial to those with dementia as it can help to combat the stresses that memory loss brings. Even just being in a different environment to usual can lift your loved one’s mood. Being in the sun is also a great mood booster.
4. EXPOSURE TO VITAMIN D
Being in the sun is not only good for mental health but physical health too. Vitamin D can help improve the bone condition and prevent issues like osteoporosis which affects around 17% of 65-year-olds. Combating osteoporosis can prevent falls and reduce the likelihood of broken bones.
Vitamin D is also needed for the cells of the immune system and keeping these cells in the best condition possible is vital for decreasing risk of illness.
Getting enough vitamin D is also beneficial for oral health as studies show that patients with higher levels of vitamin D are less likely to suffer from oral ailments such as gum disease and tooth decay, which can be a leading cause of tooth loss in seniors.
5. SOCIALISATION
When taking up gardening in somewhere like Bernash Care Home it is a great opportunity for your loved one to converse with other residents and staff about interests and the different plants and planting ideas. Loneliness is a big problem for many elderly people, with 1.4 million elderly people in England deemed chronically lonely. At a care home, there will always be someone present for your loved one to converse with. When this is combined with opportunities for activities like gardening at Bernash it is a great way to create bonding and lasting friendships which is imperative for increased wellbeing.
Gardening is a great way for older people to stay mentally and physically healthy and at Bernash Care Home you can feel relaxed in the knowledge that your loved one is safe and supervised at all times. Contact us today for any questions or care-related information