According to research by Scotts Miracle-Gro and Wakefield, about 185.9 million people in America garden. They spend about five hours a week, on average, tending to their plants.
More seniors are stepping outside and gardening for health as well. Enjoying a community garden can also foster social connections, improve your mental and physical health, and enhance your quality of life.
On the fence about participating in outdoor activities for seniors? Read on to discover more benefits of community gardens for elderly seniors today!
Senior Social Engagement
Nearly 35% of adults ages 50 to 80 feel isolated, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. About 73% of these seniors report having fair or poor mental health due to a lack of companionship. Chronic loneliness can affect your physical, mental, and cognitive health, reducing your longevity.
Joining community gardens for elderly seniors will allow you to build new social connections. Senior social engagement can improve your mental and physical health. Here are a few ways socializing through senior gardening is beneficial.
Emotional Health Benefits
Social engagement can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Otherwise, loneliness can increase the risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Weakened immune systems
- Anxiety
- Cognitive decline
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Death
Loneliness may increase the risk of mortality by 50% (higher than excessive alcohol use, air pollution, and obesity). Engaging with other seniors can reduce your risk, improving your health and longevity.
Outdoor activities for seniors will encourage you to interact with others. You can engage in meaningful conversations as you garden to strengthen your social connections. As you garden, you can share laughter, experiences, and camaraderie.
The process of planting seeds and nurturing them takes time. Seeing and harvesting the fruits of your labor can give you a sense of accomplishment. This promotes a sense of purpose, improving personal fulfillment and satisfaction.
Working toward a common goal can be rewarding. You can celebrate successes among new friends as your first plants sprout and grow.
These experiences will improve your emotional well-being. You can have fulfilling experiences while enhancing your quality of life.
Develop New Skills
Senior gardening is a great opportunity for you to learn and develop new skills. You can challenge yourself, grow intellectually, and keep your mind sharp.
While gardening, you’ll learn:
- About different plant species
- Effective gardening methods
- Pest control techniques
You can share your existing knowledge or learn from more experienced gardeners around you. This will stimulate your mind and keep you engaged. As you develop new skills and learn, you’ll gain more self-confidence in and outside of the garden.
Gain Environmental Awareness
Gardening allows you to connect with nature. You can explore sustainable practices like:
- Eco-friendly gardening methods
- Water conservation
- Composting
While gardening, you’ll become more attuned to the natural world. You’ll become more aware of your impact on the earth. Practicing these sustainability methods with others can help enhance your sense of community and responsibility.
Gardening for Health
Gardening can benefit your physical and mental health. Here are some compelling reasons to consider stepping into your senior living community’s garden.
Physical Health Benefits
The combination of breathing in fresh air and movement can benefit your physical health. Potential health benefits include:
- Increased physical activity
- Enhanced cardiovascular health
- Stronger joints and muscles
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases
- Improved motor skills and flexibility
Gardening involves digging, planting, and carrying, encouraging you to remain physically active. These movements can improve your motor skills, cardiovascular health, and flexibility.
These tasks will improve your joint and muscle health over time. Your mobility and balance will improve, reducing your risk of falls and injuries.
Remaining physically active can reduce your risk of chronic conditions. These include osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.
If you have a limited range of motion, community gardens for elderly seniors are equipped to help. They may include raised planters, benches, and work tables. You can use stumble-proof walking trails to avoid slips and falls.
Using tools to prune and place seeds can improve your fine motor skills. According to the National Library of Medicine, your hand-eye coordination may improve over time.
Gardening may help your body fight diseases. Outdoor activities for seniors encourage vitamin D production. This may reduce your risk of:
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Myopia and macular degeneration
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Some types of cancer
You can enjoy the nutritious fruits and vegetables you’ve planted, further benefiting your physical health.
Mental Health Benefits
Tending to a garden encourages mindfulness. You can focus on the present instead of worrying about the past or future. Spending time outside may help you feel more relaxed.
Other potential mental health benefits of gardening include:
- Reduced feelings of loneliness
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Enhanced happiness and mood
- Increased sense of purpose
- Improved cognitive function
Gardening will improve your mood and self-esteem, which can benefit your quality of life. You’ll gain a sense of empowerment and agency, improving your self-confidence.
Working in a quiet, serene environment can help you relax, reducing stress levels. Otherwise, chronic stress can cause:
- Tense muscles
- Heartburn
- Headaches
- Rapid breathing
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Increased depression and anxiety
- Weakened immune system
- Increased risk of heart attack
Chronic stress can increase your risk of serious health conditions. As your blood pressure rises, your risk of a heart attack or stroke may increase. Alleviating your stress with outdoor activities can benefit your health and longevity.
Gardening may have a positive effect on memory care residents. It stimulates the sense of touch, vision, smell, and hearing while gardening.
Senior gardening can spur growth in the brain’s memory-related nerves, improving cognitive functioning. This could improve memory recall in dementia patients.
Benefit From Your Community Garden
The next time you feel stressed, consider stepping outside and exploring your community garden. Senior gardening can offer mental, physical, and emotional health benefits.
Experience the benefits of community gardens for elderly seniors firsthand at Seaton Voorhees. We combine personalized, attentive care, engaging programs, and quality amenities to enhance senior living.
Enjoy a stress-free livelihood full of excitement and leisure. Contact us now to schedule your tour.
