Gardening Tools for Arthritis Patients and the Elderly
Gardening has long been considered a quintessential American pastime, and with good reason. Not only can it be fun and rewarding to grow your own plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables, but gardening can also be enjoyable, therapeutic and good exercise for those who are elderly or have arthritis. Since the specific needs of each gardener are different, there is no one right way to set up a growing space, rather, the space should be adapted to make gardening as easy and comfortable as possible. With a little extra effort when it comes to planning, along with specialized tools, it is possible to create a highly customized garden plot that matches the wants and needs of an arthritic or elderly gardener. Does this Spark an idea?
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Raised Beds or Earthboxes
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Raised beds are an excellent and low-maintenance way to garden. Not only can they be assembled in a variety of lengths, but they can also be built to a height that is comfortable and easy to work with, which means less bending, reaching down and straining than simply growing in the ground. Elevated, wheelchair-accessible raised beds can also be purchased or built to make access to the garden convenient. Additional benefits of raised bed gardening are less weeding, a reduction in the amount of time spent watering, and the ability to grow many plants in a relatively small space. Earthboxes, which can be found online at www.earthbox.com, are another good choice, as they are smaller, self-contained, self-watering units that can be placed on greenhouse benches.
Make Watering Easier
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Watering can be a concern when it comes to elderly gardeners or those with arthritis. Lifting and using filled watering cans can be too heavy or cumbersome. A good alternative is to use a lightweight watering wand from your local garden center, connected to a spigot or better still, have a simple and inexpensive drip irrigation system installed. A drip irrigation system will keep your plants watered without over-watering and can be set on a timer to go on automatically, so that you will not have to do any additional work.
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Specially Designed Tools and Accessories
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Many specialty catalogs and websites sell specially designed, ergonomically correct gardening tools that can help reduce strain and make gardening simpler and more enjoyable. These tools are considerably lighter than standard tools and feature easy-to-grip handles. For example, the Easi-Grip garden tools sold at www.lifesolutionsplus.com, are available in a myriad of styles including cultivators, forks and trowels. Other helpful gardening accouterments to consider include kneeling pads, rolling work seats and expandable reachers, all of which can be found at or ordered from garden centers or farm supply stores.
Adapt Tools and Improvise
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In some cases, a gardeners level of manual dexterity may not enable the person to comfortably grasp standard or specially designed tools. It may be helpful to use everyday kitchen items instead, such as lightweight plastic utensils and serving pieces. These makeshift tools will work just as well for small-scale raking or digging and may be considerably easier to handle. Plus, they can be attached to wooden dowels to create a longer, "telescoping" tool to allow the gardener to reach across an area of the garden to tend to her plants.
Use Carts
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Use a small, sturdy, lightweight garden cart to transport gardening supplies instead of walking with them. Carrying heavier items can put a strain on your hands and back, therefore it's better to put them onto a cart and wheel them directly to your garden. Be sure that when you buy garden supplies, such as potting mix, fertilizer or mulch, that you purchase the items in small bags to make moving them about more manageable. If you find that transporting items in a cart is still too cumbersome, ask a friend or family member for assistance rather than strain yourself.
Grow Smaller or Determinate Sized Plants
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When planting your garden, consider growing smaller, dwarf or determinate plants, flowers, herbs or vegetables. By knowing in advance that your plants are only going to grow to a certain size, you know that they will not overpower your gardening space or overwhelm you with their height or width as the season progresses. Smaller plants are easier to keep tidy, prune and harvest than their larger, indeterminate counterparts.
Interact with Other Gardeners
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Many towns and cities have gardening clubs and community gardens. If there is not one in your town, there may be one nearby. If not, consider starting one. Joining a club or participating in a shared garden can be a great way to interact with others who have like interests as well as a way to make new friends who share your passion for plants. Taking part in a horticulture therapy program is another option for those who are interested in expanding their gardening horizons and exploring the spiritual and emotional aspects of gardening.
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