For many, gardening is more than just a hobby; it's a lifeline to well-being, particularly for those in home care.
At Access Care, with over 30 years of experience of live-in care, we have seen firsthand how gardening can transform lives.
In this next blog post, we will explore the many benefits of gardening, offer tips on easy-to-care-for plants, suggest alternative gardening options for those live-in care clients without garden access, and share other outdoor activities that can enhance well-being.
Let's dig into how gardening can be a game-changer for your loved ones in live-in care.
The Main Benefits of Gardening for Home Care Clients
Physical Health Improvement: Gardening offers a low-impact form of exercise that can really work to enhance physical health for live-in care clients. The act of digging, planting, and weeding involves a range of motions that help improve flexibility, strength, and motor functions. Regular gardening activities can also promote overall cardiovascular fitness and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity and heart disease.
Mental Health Boost: Being at one with nature through gardening has proven therapeutic effects on mental health and well-being. It can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment. The calming nature of the garden environment and the rhythm of natural processes offer meditative experiences that help relieve stress and help to create a positive mental outlook.
Enhanced Nutrition: Home-grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs can significantly improve dietary intake for live-in care clients. Growing their own food encourages live-in care clients to consume fresh produce, which is rich in essential vitamins and minerals. This not only aids in a healthier diet but also enhances the understanding and appreciation of food sources.
Social Interaction and Community Building: Gardening can be a great social activity, encouraging interactions with fellow gardeners, carers, and family members. Community gardens or shared horticultural projects unite people with a common interest, fostering friendships and a sense of belonging, which are so keyfor emotional well-being.
Cognitive Function Stimulation: Through planning and implementing gardening tasks, live-in care clients engage cognitive skills such as problem-solving and creativity. Remembering plant care routines and observing growth cycles also help to stimulate the memory and cognitive function, potentially delaying the progression of cognitive decline associated with ageing.
Sense of Accomplishment: Watching a seed grow into a thriving plant can bring a live-in care client a great sense of accomplishment, contributing to their self-esteem and autonomy. This feeling of success is especially empowering for people in live-in care, building their confidence and motivation in other life aspects.
Emotional Connection to Nature: Cultivating plants creates a deeper connection to nature, offering a refuge of peace and tranquillity. This connection can be especially beneficial for those live-in care clients who might feel lonely or isolated, as it provides a sense of belonging to the natural world and a regular escape into a peaceful, vibrant environment.
Routine and Structure: Gardening introduces a routine that can bring structure to daily life, which is crucial for live-in care clients. Regular watering, pruning, and plant care can become part of a daily schedule, offering stability and continuity, helping to anchor live-in care clients' days and providing them with dependable activities to look forward to.
Increased Sensory Engagement: The diverse sensory experiences involved in gardening can be particularly engaging for live-in care clients. From the vibrant colours of flowers to the various textures of leaves and soil, as well as the soothing sounds of rustling plants and the scents of fresh herbs, gardening stimulates all of the senses and that can help to improve overall sensory functions.
Opportunity for Reflection and Mindfulness: Gardening promotes moments of reflection and encourages mindfulness. The process of tending to plants requires focus and presence, which can help live-in care clients practise mindfulness by drawing their attention to the present moment. This mindfulness can reduce stress and increase a sense of peace and clarity, enhancing the emotional well-being of live-in care clients.
Easy-to-Care-for Plants for Beginners
Understanding Easy-to-Care-for Plants for Home Care Clients
For live-in care clients who have access to a garden, looking after easy-to-care-for plants can provide both the joy of gardening and the comfort of manageable responsibility.
Here is a brief explanation of how each choice supports well-being and gardening success:
Herbs (such as basil, mint, and oregano): These herbs are hardy and can thrive in various kinds of conditions, making them perfect for beginner gardeners. They can be grown in small herb gardens or even in pots, providing a simple way to enjoy fresh, aromatic ingredients that can be used in cooking or teas, enhancing both nutrition and sensory satisfaction.
Succulents and Cacti: Known for their ability to retain water and require minimal maintenance, succulents and cacti are ideal for those with limited or no gardening experience or inconsistent schedules. These types of plants really add an aesthetic appeal with their unique shapes and beautiful colours, and they only need occasional watering, making them a low-stress option for a live-in care client to add to their garden.
Annual Flowers (like marigolds and zinnias): These flowers are not only beautiful to look at but relatively low-maintenance, providing visual appeal with not much effort. Their bloom cycles are often long, ensuring plenty of moments to enjoy their beauty while also attracting insects such as bees and butterflies, which are nice to see and also enhance the garden ecosystem.
Leafy Vegetables (such as lettuce and spinach): Quick to grow and harvest, leafy vegetables are a really great choice for home gardeners. They offer immediate gratification and are naturally rich in nutrients, promoting better dietary habits. With the added benefit of supporting cognitive function through simple growing processes like sowing and harvesting.
Perennials (such as lavender and coneflowers): With their brilliant ability to return year after year, perennials minimise replanting tasks, making them a time-efficient choice for live-in care clients. They only need basic care like pruning and watering but reward gardeners with lasting beauty and the comforting predictability of perennial regrowth patterns. Their hardy nature can also prove reassuring for live-in care clients who are keen to keep their garden looking lovely year after year.
Choosing these plants can help live-in care clients get invovled in gardening without feeling overwhelmed, allowing them to gain the therapeutic benefits of tending to a garden while maintaining a sense of achievement and joy.
Gardening Without Outdoor Space
Vertical Gardens: Vertical gardens are a great idea to maximise small spaces by allowing plants to grow upwards instead of outwards. They can be set up using a variety of structures, such as wall-mounted planters, tiered shelves, or pocket-style panels that hang on walls. This setup not only uses vertical space cleverly but also creates a really beautiful visual display and can easily be assembled indoors or on small balconies of live-in care client’s apartments.
Window Sills and Ledges: Making the most of window sills and ledges is a straightforward way to create a mini-garden indoors, where natural sunlight is plentiful. Herbs, succulents, and small potted plants can thrive here with minimal maintenance. Additionally, these plants can add aesthetic value and beneficial nutrients to indoor air quality in a live-in care client’s home.
Hydroponic Systems: Hydroponics involves growing plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution without soil. This method is particularly useful for indoor gardening as it needs much less space and can be used to grow a large selection of plants, including things like herbs and leafy greens. Systems can be bought as kits or built DIY style, providing flexibility for different live-in care client’s budgets and spaces.
Hanging Baskets: Hanging baskets offer another wonderfully creative solution for gardening without the traditional space that is typically needed. Hanging baskets can be hung from ceilings, hooks, or walls, adding green elements to various parts of a live-in care client’s home. Trailing plants like pothos or herbs like mint can really flourish in hanging baskets and add visual interest to a room.
Terrariums: Terrariums are mini ecosystems that are contained in glass containers and can support a diverse range of plant life, such as mosses, ferns, and air plants. These self-contained systems are ideal for live-in care clients as they are low maintenance and provide a unique decorative element to interiors while allowing plant enthusiasts to enjoy gardening even in minimal spaces.
Container Gardening: Container gardening allows flexibility as containers can be moved around to catch the best light or be positioned for aesthetic purposes. With the variety of sizes and shapes that are available to buy, nearly any type of plant can be suited to container growth, from vegetables to flowering plants, adapting the garden to the space’s limitations and personal preferences of the live-in care client.
Balcony Boxes: Balcony boxes are a really fantastic way to make use of live-in care client’s small outdoor or semi-outdoor spaces. They can be mounted on balcony railings or placed along ledges, offering the perfect option for live-in care clients who live in apartments to enjoy gardening. Balcony boxes are ideal for growing herbs, flowers, and even small vegetables, meaning you are able to create a garden that's both functional and decorative. Balcony boxes can be tailored to fit almost any balcony space, making them versatile additions to any city garden setup.
Easy-to-Care-for Plants for Beginners
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Resilience: Snake plants are really resilient, they are able to live in a wide range of light conditions from low indirect light to full sun, making them ideal for various home environments.
Low Water Needs: They only need minimal watering -typically once every two to three weeks -meaning they are great for those that don’t have much time to spare. Their drought-tolerant nature also means they can survive infrequent watering without suffering any long lasting damage.
Air Purifying Qualities: Snake plants are natural air purifiers, known for removing toxins in the air.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Adaptability: Pothos is a highly adaptable plant that is able to thrive in a variety of light conditions, including low light, making it ideal for dimly lit rooms.
Simple Pruning: With straightforward pruning needs, managing the growth of this plant is super easy -simply trim any long vines back to the desired length.
Minimal Pest Issues: It is relatively pest-free and only needs the occasional watering, once the soil has dried out, making it a low-maintenance and beginner-friendly option for live-in care clients.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Ease of Propagation: Spider plants are a brilliant choice for live-in care clients who are new to gardening due to their ease of propagation; their "babies," or plantlets, can be easily rooted in water or soil to start new plants.
Hardy Nature: They can tolerate neglect, such as irregular watering, and still remain really vibrant, needing only an occasional trimming of brown tips to maintain their appearance.
Great Air Purifiers: Like snake plants, spider plants are also effective at purifying indoor air, absorbing pollutants and improving overall air quality.
Aloe Vera
Sunny Disposition: Aloe vera plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight and can survive even in partial shade, making it a versatile plant for those who may struggle to find the right lighting conditions.
Watering Ease: Infrequent watering suits aloe vera well, as it prefers the soil to dry out completely between waterings, reducing the risk of overwatering, which is a common beginner mistake.
Medicinal Benefits: Besides being very low-maintenance to keep, aloe vera offers extra practical benefits like its soothing gel, which can be used for minor skin irritations, adding extra value to its care.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Signal of Needs: Peace lilies are communicative plants, they tend to droop when they need water, which makes it simple even for live-in care clients who are new to plants to gauge when to water them.
Tolerance to Low Light: These plants tend to thrive in low to medium light, making them suitable for rooms where direct sunlight is limited or unavailable.
Natural Humidifiers: As natural humidifiers, peace lilies help to increase the moisture in the air, which can be particularly beneficial in dry indoor environments, while also serving as air purifiers by removing toxins from the air.
These plant options are not only easy to keep but also provide lots of different benefits that can improve the overall living environment for a live-in care client’s home, making them perfect choices for anyone new to gardening or limited in time or space.
Other Outdoor Activities for Home Care Clients
Gardening is not the only way in which live-in care clients can get outside and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Here are some other activities that can really help to enhance a clients well-being, both physical and mental:
Pick up a Book and get Reading
Reading in a garden or park can be a peaceful way for a live-in care client to enjoy the fresh air. A comfortable chair and a good book can provide hours of relaxation and mental stimulation.
Light Movement and Exercise
Gentle exercises like walking, stretching, or yoga can be done in a garden or outdoor space. These activities help maintain a live-in care client’s mobility and improve their overall health.
Grab a Rug and Head Outside - Picnic in the Garden
A simple picnic in the garden can be a really lovely way to enjoy a meal and spend time with loved ones outdoors. Bring a blanket, some favourite foods, and enjoy the outdoors.
Binoculars Ready - Get Bird Watching
Bird watching can be a really rewarding hobby. Setting up a bird feeder and watching the different species that visit can provide endless entertainment and a connection to nature for a live-in care client.
Time to Get Creative: Painting or Drawing Outside
Creative activities like painting or drawing can be done outdoors, providing inspiration and a creative outlet for a live-in care client. Nature can be a wonderful muse for artistic expression.
These types of activities can compliment gardening, offering varied ways to enjoy the outdoors and enhance well-being for live-in care clients.
About Access Care
Who We Are
At Access Care we are dedicated to providing premium live-in care services, committed to enhancing the quality of life for our live-in care clients by providing compassionate, professional, and personalised care. With a team of highly trained live-in carers, we aim to support out clients in maintaining their independence from within the comfort of their own homes.
Our core values are rooted in empathy, respect, and a deep understanding of each live-in care client's unique and specific needs, ensuring that we deliver live-in care that is tailored, respectful, and impactful.
How Our Personal Carers Can Help
Personalised Care Solutions
Our live-in carers work with their home care clients and their families to develop specific care solutions that look after their unique health and personal needs. These care solutions are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the highest quality of live-in care.
Companion Care
We offer companion care services that try to reduce feelings of loneliness and enhance the mental well-being of our clients. Our live-in carers engage clients in meaningful conversations, accompany them on outings, and participate in activities that encourage social interaction.
Daily Living Assistance
Our live-in carers help and support with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. This service helps maintain clients' dignity while ensuring their health and hygiene needs are met.
Medication Management
Making sure live-in care clients are taking their prescribed medication correctly is crucial. Our live-in carers provide help with medication reminders, organisation, and management to adhere to prescribed medication schedules.
Mobility Support
We offer support for mobility needs, helping live-in care clients move safely around their homes and conduct exercises that improve their strength and balance, reducing their risk of falls.
Household Management
Our live-in carers can help their client with light housekeeping tasks, ensuring that the live-in care client's environment remains clean, safe, and pleasant. This includes laundry, tidying up, and organising living spaces.
Nutritional Support
Recognising the importance of nutrition, our live-in carers help with meal planning, food shopping, and cooking to ensure their live-in care client has access to healthy and balanced meals.
Short Term Respite Care
For family carers who need a break, we offer short term respite care services, ensuring continuity of care and peace of mind when they take time away from their care responsibilities.
Transportation Assistance
Our live-in carers provide transportation for their clients to their appointments, social events, or errands, promoting independence and participation in community activities.
End-of-Life Care
Our compassionate palliative care services focus on comfort and quality of life for clients facing end-of-life situations, providing emotional support for both the clients and their loved ones.
At Access Care, we are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our live-in care clients through comprehensive, compassionate care that respects individuality and encourages independence.
How to Get in Touch with us at Access Care
If you think Access Care could help your loved one, we'd love to hear from you. Our caring and knowledgeable team is here to answer any questions that you may have and help you find the perfect live-in care for your loved one.
To get started, simply:
Call Us at 01264 319 399 to speak with one of our friendly live-in care experts.
Register With Us to set us to work finding the perfect live-in carer for your loved one.
Start Care by choosing the live-in carer that best fits your specific and unique needs, and we'll take care of the arrangements.
You can also learn more about our services and read client testimonials, on our website.
Enjoy the Many Benefits of Gardening & Other Outdoor Activities
By incorporating these steps and activities into a live-in care client’s routine, you can help them enjoy the many benefits of gardening and outdoor activities.
Whether it is through tending to plants, enjoying a book outside, or enjoying a family picnic, these activities can really work to enhance a live-in care client’s mental and physical well-being as well as their overall happiness.
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