Aging adults may face challenging circumstances with the physical, social, and psychological aspects of life. These challenges can create difficulty with performing activities of daily living. Community gardening can provide a great deal of benefits for older adults. Gardening can be a fun and interactive way to incorporate exercise one’s daily routine. The American Heart Association recommends older adults aged 65 and older to incorporate at least 150 minutes or 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activities per week. With this recommendation, older adults can incorporate gardening for 30 minutes a day, 5 times per week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes physical activity as being essential for healthy living among older adults. Physical activity for seniors has many health benefits such as:
- Brain health
- Weight management
- Reduces health risks for:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type II Diabetes
- Some cancers (Bladder, Breast, Colon, Kidney, Lung, Stomach, and etc.)
- Bone and muscle strengthening
- Improves the ability to do daily activities and prevent falls
- Increases the chances of living longer
- Improves quality of life
In addition to physical activity, community gardening provides nutritious benefits. This includes providing continued access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. A problem many older adults may face is the not consuming as many fruits and vegetables. The lack of fruits and vegetables in their diets is related to a number of nutrient deficiencies, exacerbating current chronic conditions and possibly leading to new diseases or illnesses. Fruit and vegetable intake among older adults is very important, and community gardening provides the ability and accessibility to increase nutritious food consumption. This is likely to contribute to better health. Community gardening can be performed in a fun and realistic way where older adults can incorporate fruits and vegetables into their daily meals on their own or with assistance.
Also, it can be challenging for older adults with a low or fixed income to afford and obtain fruits and vegetables to incorporate into daily meals. In fact, it can be more expensive compared to alternative meals that are less healthy. Community gardening can provide a solution to the accessibility and affordability problems for older adults. As mentioned, community gardens allow for greater access to a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as increasing physical activity. It also provides psychological benefits because seniors are collaborating with others when tending to the community garden. It adds mental stimulation through the gardening work and social interactions.
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By: Rasheeka Carriere
Senior Advising Intern at WellPath Partners
Health Science Student at California State University, Long Beach
