GARDEN THERAPY

There are approximately 71.6 million baby boomers between 57-75 years old in the United States. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. What does this tell us? That GCM’s inclusion of Healing, Therapy and Senior Gardening as a committee anticipates the wave of interest and need for healing, therapy and senior gardening.

Some of the top reasons for encouraging senior gardening:

1. Improved moods and lower stress levels: Studies have shown that spending time in nature makes people calmer and happier.

2. Gardening provides light aerobic exercise which can enhance your mental and physical health.

3. Digging in the dirt, planting seeds, pulling weeds- all of these gardening activities require the use of the hands and arms, which can help seniors improve dexterity and strengthen muscles.

4. Great for heart health! Regular moderate exercise decreases the risk of many heart problems.

5. Careful exposure to the sun increases Vitamin D in the body, which is essential for senior health.

6. Gardening requires critical thinking and problem solving (a bit of an understatement, I know!) so it can help to keep an aging mind active. Over this term, I will be providing information as to how both individuals and clubs can conduct streamlined senior gardening in their homes, and undertake projects in their community to assist others in their quest to continue gardening at any age.