Indoor Gardening for Elderly Individuals: 4 Garden Ideas & Benefits for Seniors
Gardening comes with many benefits for people of all ages. But over time, it can become more difficult to maintain an outdoor garden. Kneeling down can put pressure on your joints, and digging in the dirt can strain your muscles.
Fortunately, an indoor garden can offer the convenient access you need to continue enjoying gardening at any age. Take a closer look at these four key garden ideas and the benefits they offer for seniors:
1. Easy Plants to Manage: Indoor Succulent Gardens
Succulents are trendy and well-loved by many. They make the perfect “pet plants” for seniors who need a break from strenuous outdoor gardening. Popular succulents include aloe plants, cacti, and agave.
The Benefits
One major benefit that you can reap from keeping a succulent garden is aesthetic enjoyment! Many free-spirited and artistic households feature succulents, no matter the age of their occupants. Elderly living spaces are no different in this regard.
Succulents are known for being the easiest indoor plants to manage. They can thrive in almost any environment. Succulent plants have very few needs and can adjust to drought conditions if you forget to water them.
2. Terrarium Projects: Your Own Garden of Eden
If you’ve ever seen a garden inside a glass ball, you’ve laid eyes on a terrarium. They usually contain small plants, decorative rocks, and soil. Terrariums are beautiful to look at and allow you to exercise your creative muscles. They aren’t hard to maintain either — in fact, terrariums do best with very little watering.
The Benefits
Terrariums are customizable and require minimal maintenance. This means you can take your time setting them up for fun decorative purposes and then leave them be for the most part. If you’ve been itching for some arts and crafts, a terrarium might be the best indoor gardening option for you.
You also get gorgeous house decorations out of the deal. They can survive, thrive, and add character to your living space for months to come.
3. Pot Painting: Personalizing Your Favorite Plant Pots
Plant pots are the vessels that contain your most precious indoor plants. Why not have some fun making them unique to your style? You can even invite some friends over for a plant pot painting party!
The Benefits
Aside from being creative and customizable, plant pot painting fosters important fine motor skills. As you get older, you might notice that these skills aren’t what they used to be. You can reinforce these motor pathways in your brain through regular practice using activities you enjoy.
There are plenty of social benefits involved in this activity as well. If you invite some friends or loved ones over for a painting session, you get to talk and laugh together. You can catch up on the latest events and feel connected to your favorite people. This type of socializing does wonders for your physical and mental health as you age.
4. Indoor Hanging Plants: An Accessible Garden
While outdoor hanging plants are beautiful and lively, indoor hanging plants can be just as fun to tend to. If you need to save floor space and want to freshen up your environment, consider adding a few hanging plants. These all have varying sunlight and water needs, so make sure you learn the best tending practices for each plant.
The Benefits
Seeing plants in your living space is bound to make you happier and healthier. Seniors who regularly tend to houseplants, especially very visible ones like hanging plants, often experience better mental health.
Hanging plants leave plenty of room for all of your favorite decorations while serving as pieces of decor themselves. This means you can customize your space in a way that works for you. As you pass your hanging plants every day, you’ll be more apt to remember to water them, too!
Don’t Give Up on Plants: Try Indoor Gardening
As a senior, you might face unique challenges related to your physical and mental health. If you can’t get outside and tend to your garden the way you used to, don’t fret. A garden can offer the same wellness-boosting benefits to your life, no matter its location.
If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California including: Campbell, CA, Roseville, CA, San Marcos, CA, and San Mateo, CA.
