Benefits of Gardening for Seniors

Gardening to some may seem like a lost art form, or even something that has long since phased out of the modern list of popular hobbies. For those that have kept their love for gardening alive or want to try it out for the first time, living arrangements may make it difficult or near impossible to take part in this outdoor pastime.
 
Gardening has a multitude of benefits for the earth as well as the gardener, such as increasing physical activity, creating a more positive environment, and bettering one’s mental health.

Physical Activity
Gardening for just 30 minutes can burn up to 300 calories and can be adjusted to create as low intensity of a workout as necessary for each individual. As gardening increases one’s physical activity, it can help to prevent health issues such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.
 
Environmental
When keeping a garden, whether it's full of flowers or fruits and vegetables, the addition of natural colors and greenery, always beautifies a space. There are also environmental benefits of gardens, for example, they increase clean oxygen and help remove air pollutants. Local gardens also help endangered bees to flourish in our community.

​Mental Health
A recent study from the University of Florida showcased how participants who had never gardened before, partook in biweekly gardening classes and reported significantly lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. 

Melody Living independent senior living community recently installed multiple planter boxes in our beautiful outdoor space for our residents to experience the joy of gardening with our weekly Gardening Club. So far, we have been able to plant corn, squash, cucumber, carrots, radishes, onions, herbs, and more! Once our garden starts producing, we’ll be able to share our crops with our kitchen and in-house gourmet chef for everyone to enjoy freshly grown veggies and herbs.

​Melody Living strives to incorporate the 8 Dimensions of Wellness in everything we do. Through the addition of the garden to our outdoor space and by starting our Garden Club, we are bringing together Physical Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Social Wellness, Occupational Wellness, and Intellectual Wellness for our residents to enjoy.
 
We can't wait to share how our garden progresses! Be sure to schedule a tour today to discover what else Melody Living has to offer. To learn more about Melody Living independent living, feel free to give us a call at 719.900.1540 or schedule a private tour on our contact page.