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These simple strategies can ensure seniors’ summertime gardening sessions are as safe as they are rewarding.
Safety tips for seniors in the garden
Longer hours of daylight and warm temperatures are hallmarks of summer and each of these variables do much to contribute to the reputation of a season that’s become synonymous with rejuvenation.
People might find the conditions of summer irresistible, which compels many to spend more time outdoors.
There’s no shortage of things to do outside in summer, and the season marks a perfect time to reestablish one’s green thumb and get down and dirty in the garden. Gardening is a rewarding and healthy activity, though some, particularly seniors, may need to approach summertime sessions in the garden with a heightened degree of caution. Seniors can keep these health and safety tips in mind as they celebrate summer and what that means for their gardens.
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Gardening from page 6B
Recognize that gardening is exercise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies gardening as a good form of exercise, and evidence supports the notion that gardening is a particularly beneficial form of physical activity. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry indicated that individuals who engaged in low levels of leisure time physical activities such as gardening are likely to have a lower risk of stroke than peers who are sedentary. It’s important to keep these findings in mind when gardening, which is perhaps more physically demanding than some may recognize. Seniors can approach gardening just like they would other forms of exercise, taking the same precautions, such as stretching before and after each session and making a concerted effort to remain hydrated, while out in the garden.
Incorporate rest into your garden routine
Rest is vital for anyone engaged in physical activity, including gardeners. Frequent breaks during gardening sessions can help avoid strains and sprains and provide opportunities to hydrate and get out of the sun. If possible, seniors can identify a shaded spot on their properties and place a bench there so they have somewhere to rest during gardening sessions.
Frequent breaks during gardening sessions can help avoid strains and sprains and provide opportunities to hydrate and get out of the sun.
Use ergonomic gardening tools and other specialized products
The Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University notes that ergonomics studies movements of a person’s body during physical activities in an effort to produce tools that ensure a task has as little physical impact on the body as possible. Ergonomic tools are designed to lower the risk of injury, improve efficiency and increase satisfaction that stems from performing a particular activity. Before each gardening season, seniors can inspect their existing tools and replace them with ergonomic alternatives, if necessary. In addition, seniors can use specialized products, including longhandled gardening tools that reduce the need to bend over or kneel down, to further reduce their risk of injury while working in the garden.
– Courtesy of Metro Creative
desire to return to the workforce or opportunities lucrative enough to make such a transition worthwhile, retirees may be looking for ways to stretch their retirement savings. The following three strategies may help seniors do just that.
1. Seek the help of a financial planner. Some seniors may see working with a financial planner as another expense at a time when they’re trying to cut costs, but such professionals can provide a notable return on investment.
Financial planners can help seniors currently navigating complex financial waters without a compass direct their resources toward low-risk vehicles that can grow wealth with the goal of ensuring a rising cost of living does not drain existing savings and leave seniors destitute. Even incremental growth can help combat inflation, and financial planners can identify options that promote growth while limiting risk.
2. Take up gardening. People from all walks of life have lamented rising grocery bills in recent years, but seniors are not helpless against rising food prices. The Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates food prices will increase by 2.2 percent in 2025. Retirees are uniquely positioned to combat those increases, as many have the time and space to grow their own foods at a fraction of the cost of buying the same items at the store.
sary), it’s possible to recoup such initial costs rather quickly.
A 2021 report on the website Greenhouse Today estimated that a single tomato plant, which in 2025 typically can be purchased for less than $10, can yield 20 to 30 lbs. of tomatoes, producing between 20 and 90 tomatoes (size of the tomatoes will affect total yield). Grocery shoppers know that one pound of store-bought tomatoes is likely to cost around $5, give or take a dollar or two. In this example, seniors can save a substantial amount of money by growing their own food at home. Seniors can even join gardening groups where each member grows a particular food and then yields are shared among the group, leading to even more savings over time.
3. Request generic medications
The cost of medication is not fixed and is often vulnerable to changes in governmental policies. However, it’s fair to note that many seniors spend thousands of dollars per year on medication. Seniors can request generic alternatives to brand-name medications.
The health care experts at Humana estimate generic drugs cost 80 to 85 percent less on average than brand-name drugs. That’s a considerable cost savings, and that advantage could prove even more significant if policy changes increase out-of-pocket medical costs for seniors in the coming years.
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Though gardening requires an investment of time (to learn the trade) and money (tools and a landscape adjustment, if neces-
These three strategies can help seniors manage their money and protect their retirement savings in an era marked by a rising cost-of-living and an unpredictable economy.
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to jot down a list of activities you always found interesting but never had the time to learn or became too busy to fully invest in. Some seniors hit the links for the first time in retirement, while others return to school to study subjects they find interesting but did not engage with during their college years. The options are endless, and jotting down a list of new or old interests is a great way to get the ball rolling.
Virtual resources like online courses and book clubs conducted over Zoom with fellow readers across the nation and possibly even the globe are a great way to cultivate a new hobby in retirement. Virtual resources can be especially beneficial for seniors with mobility issues.
Consider local resources
Parks departments and libraries may offer an array of free or affordable opportunities for seniors to engage with a new hobby. Parks departments may offer
anything from cross country skiing tutorials to age-based hiking excursions, while libraries may offer weekly crafting sessions or wellness programs to local residents. In addition to providing fun ways to discover and cultivate a new hobby, programs offered through parks departments and local libraries are great ways to meet fellow retirees.
Put your experience to use
Retirees with years in their field don’t have to go back to work to make use of their professional expertise. Contact local youth organizations or outreach programs sponsored by churches, libraries or local law enforcement agencies and offer to share your expertise with young people. Such opportunities enable retirees to continue to engage with their professions and help a younger generation of aspiring professionals gain valuable insight into fields they’re interested in.
– Courtesy of Metro Creative
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