The April showers have officially brought along May flowers, and now is the perfect time to get outside and start planning your own garden! Gardening connects us to the beauty of the natural world, but for older adults, it can also provide a variety of wellness benefits.
From sensory stimulation to physical activity, the benefits of gardening for older adults can help ensure healthy aging and promote purposeful living. At Brickmont Assisted Living, our senior living communities provide resources for older adults to gain more information on leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Below, we are sharing four benefits of gardening for seniors and how to get started.
1. Boost Your Immune System
Perhaps the most negative part of gardening? Getting messy while digging in the dirt. However, a little bit of soil can actually be beneficial for your health. The next time you get dirt under your nails from gardening, don’t fret! The bacteria found in gardening soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, is a friendly bacteria that has been found to help improve your immune system.
This powerhouse bacteria has been found to lower the effects of allergies, psoriasis, and asthma and has also been shown to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Our immune system interacts with our brain in a way that scientists are still trying to figure out, but our immune systems can also impact mental health.
2. Reduce Stress
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone.” When our bodies sense we’re in a situation that could be potentially dangerous, our adrenal glands release cortisol into the body in order to regulate stress, trigger “fight or flight,” and ensure that we’re able to function to protect ourselves. Chronic stress, however, can be detrimental to our mental and physical health, occurring when a person experiences consistent and ongoing situations that cause anxiety.
A Dutch study found that gardening significantly lowered cortisol levels as two groups were instructed to complete a stressful task. After completing the assignment, one group gardened outdoors for 30 minutes while the other read a book indoors for the same amount of time. The gardening group reported better moods than the reading group, and those conducting the experiment found that the gardening group had significantly lower cortisol levels.
3. Lower Your Risk of Dementia
The factors that contribute to dementia are relatively unknown. Still, it’s important for older adults to do as much as they can to promote cognitive function, improve mobility, and get enough sensory awareness to stave away any early symptoms. While it might not prevent dementia development, these activities can help reduce a person’s risk.
So how does gardening help lower the risk of dementia? A long-term study followed 3,000 adults for 16 years, tracking any instances of dementia-like activity and taking into mind any lifestyle factors or changes. Researchers found at the end of the study that daily gardening reduced incidences of dementia by 36%. Gardening involves using many functions like dexterity, learning and problem-solving, and sensory awareness, all of which contribute to a reduced risk.
4. Enjoy Nature – and Increase Happiness!
Humans are instinctively drawn to living and growing things, whether plants or animals, thanks to a phenomenon called biophilia, a word that in itself comes from the Greek words for “love” and “life.” Biophilia quite literally can be translated to “love of life,” and when humans surround themselves with growing plants, they reap more benefits than just a pretty view.
By actively caring for a growing garden, not only can you feel a deep connection with the environment, but you can feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose as you take the time to nurture your plants. In addition, the combination of natural awareness, physical activity, and cognitive stimulation has been found to decrease symptoms of depression and improve mental health. In fact, horticultural therapy is a practice that has proven the benefits of gardening in rehabilitative, vocational and community settings.
Brickmont Assisted Living is constantly evolving, along with the lifestyles and ideals of seniors, to provide an active and fulfilling community for residents. Gardening is an excellent way to reconnect with the world around you, boost your health, reduce your risk of disease, and simply reap the benefits of happiness.
We invite you to explore our Brickmont Assisted Living community throughout Georgia and schedule your tour today!
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