Safe Gardening Tips For Seniors
It’s springtime and all over the country, seniors are shaking off the winter blues and venturing outdoors to begin beautifying their lawns and gardens. It’s a great time of year for older adults because they have opportunity to be more active, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and test their green thumb skills.
Spring is a wonderful season for seniors to do gardening chores, but it can also be an undertaking fraught with perils that can result in accidents and injuries that endanger their health and well-being.
Perform A Safety Check
Never assume all is well in your lawn or garden since the last time you worked outside. Things can happen. Critters may have dug holes you can’t see and stepping into one can cause a bone breaking slip-and-fall injury. Wet winter weather and snow can create soggy spots in your lawn that are accidents waiting to happen to the unsuspecting eye.
The best advice is don’t go into your lawn and garden alone the first time in spring. Have a friend or family member accompany you to identify possible safety hazards such as exposed roots, hidden holes or debris that might have scattered onto your property. Two or more sets of eyes are better than one when looking for dangers that might be lurking where you least expect them.
Know Your Limitations
It’s human nature to think we can do everything as well today as we once did. Unfortunately, it’s this type of thinking that increases the risk of injuries to seniors doing gardening chores. With each passing year, flowerpots get heavier, weeds are harder to dig out and the time spent working comfortably outdoors lessens.
By acknowledging the physical limitations caused by aging, seniors can better pace themselves with the type and amount of work they do in their yards and gardens. If you take plenty of breaks, stay hydrated and avoid overexposure to the sun, you’ll maximize the physical benefits of working outdoors while minimizing the risks of accidents and injuries. What you did in one day last year might now take two days this time around, but that’s okay. You’ll still accomplish the tasks safely if you use common sense.
Keep Your Cell Phone Handy
Seniors living alone or with a spouse that has mobility or hearing problems should always have their cell phone within easy reach when working outdoors. In the event a health event does happen, you’ll be able to call for help if its needed.
If there is no family member around when you do your gardening chores, phone a friend or neighbor and let them know you will be outside working if you need to be reached for any reason. You should also set a time to check in with them or vice-versa as an added level of safety to make sure all is well and stays well as you tend to your plants and vegetables.
Warm Up Before You Work
Elite athletes always warm up their muscles by bending and stretching before they engage in sporting activities. The same logic applies to seniors planning on doing lawn and garden work. If seniors spend 15 minutes or so doing simple leg, arm, and back exercises, they minimize the chances of suffering muscle strains.
Make sure you have everything you need when you begin your chores. Bring all the garden tools you need so you don’t have to make multiple trips back inside the house or garage. Have a chair handy that you can sit down on an relax when necessary and wear proper clothing that prevent you from being overheated or chilled. If insects are a concern, spray on bug repellent and always wear gloves to protect your hands and fingers.
Safety First
Working outdoors in the lawn and garden is a wonderful activity for seniors of any age. Doing it safely should always be the goal. Smart seniors make gardening safe by planning it as a social activity. They invite family members or friends to join them when working outdoors and reciprocate by doing the same at their homes. Adding a social aspect to gardening makes it seem less like work and more like fun for everyone involved.
Sunshine is great medicine for good health, so enjoy the days of spring and let the gardening begin.
