A guide to low maintenance gardens for the elderly

Why is gardening beneficial for older people? 

Gardening offers a number of physical, mental and emotional benefits, particularly for older people. Growing your own plants, vegetables and fruits can be a rewarding activity for those who live alone, have extra time on their hands, and have enough energy to maintain a garden. The benefits include:

• Gentle fitness from walking, digging, weeding, carrying a watering can, and more. All of these activities can help to improve an older person’s strength, flexibility, coordination, and other physical functions. Regular outdoor activities like this can help with everything from joint flexibility to heart health to mobility. Research from the University of Roehampton found that gardening could actually promote bone health and reduce falls in older adults.
• Providing a sense of purpose, fulfilment and success by finishing creative garden projects, which can improve an older person’s self-esteem and confidence. A 2020 study of Australian participants found that both gardening and being present in the garden had therapeutic benefits such as more positive ageing self-perceptions.
• Providing time in nature, which can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and even depression in some cases. There are many reasons for this, most notably the sensory experience of connecting with nature, such as touching soil and smelling flowers. TheBritish Psychological Societysuggests that gardening activities have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, and can reduce feelings of stress, anger, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Further studiesconfirm gardening has the ability to improve mental wellbeing and quality of life in older adults.
• Providing opportunities to socialise if nearby neighbours are also gardening, or simply walking past. Loneliness can be a big problem for older adults, but thankfully there are opportunities to interact with people when gardening, particularly if older people get involved in community gardening projects or allotments. All of this can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
• Opportunities to learn new skills in order to make certain plants live longer, stop pests from eating vegetables, and discover new types of flora and fauna. 
• Creating healthier eating habits by growing one’s own fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs to add to meals.
• General pleasure, since research suggests older adults spend more of their leisure time gardening than any other age group.

You can learn more in our guide to how gardening helps the elderly.

What type of gardens are best for older people with mobility issues?

When designing a garden for an older person, whether they have mobility issues or not, the priorities should be safety and accessibility, while also making sure things are easy to use and enjoy. Creating an environment where an older person can feel comfortable in their outdoor space has many benefits – the goal is to make it easy for them to get fresh air, enjoy nature safely, and socialise with neighbours.Some of the best garden modifications and features that could facilitate this include:

Seating and shade

Having robust and comfortable places to sit around the garden can help provide safety if an older person becomes fatigued while working in the garden, and also variety if they want to spend time outdoors but cannot be on their feet for a prolonged period of time. Make sure these have some form of shade, such as under a tree or umbrella, so they can avoid heat-related issues in warm weather.Raised plantersFor older people who may struggle to bend down or kneel on the ground, having a raised area of the garden for planting flowers, vegetables and herbs makes it easy for them to tend to these comfortably without experiencing pain. These could be built or assembled at waist height, or at the height of a chair or wheelchair if necessary. 

Containers

Another way to make accessing plants and flowers easier and more comfortable is to plant them in moveable containers that can be positioned at the appropriate height on a number of surfaces. This way, older people can enjoy pottering with them without having to bend or kneel on the ground. An added benefit of containers is that they can be moved easily, so caregivers can move them inside to enable the older person to continue gardening in bad weather, or they can be repositioned for better sunlight.

Less grass

TheRoyal Horticultural Society suggests older adults remove their lawn if they are struggling to keep up cutting the grass, in favour of a low-maintenance patio or decking to reduce ongoing maintenance. For those with mobility issues who find it challenging or dangerous to cut their grass, this could be a welcome change. 

Wide pathways

It may be a hazard to have uneven ground throughout the garden, such as cracked paving stones, gravel or unkept grassy areas. Having wide, level pathways throughout the garden can make it easier for older people to move around freely and confidently with less risk of falls or injuries. This may also be essential for those in wheelchairs, or those who use a walker or stick for support. 

Non-slip surfaces

In adverse weather, certain surfaces can become wet or icy, which can be very dangerous for older people. Staying inside in these conditions is usually best, but in some cases it may be safer to replace potentially slippery ground with something more stable. For example, surfaces made of things like limestone or marble can be slippery when wet, and any stones covered in moss or algae can be slippery. However, level grass, shingle, or even stone paths or decking with rubber matting can be a safer choice that provides more grip.

Grab rails and ramps

Just like inside the home, having grab rails or other forms of support in high-use areas of the garden can provide additional safety. By focusing on places where older people like to walk or sit, having something to hold on to for stability can make them feel more secure. If rails cannot be installed, raised planters could have multiple uses as both a more comfortable way to look after plants, and a surface to hold onto when needed.

Low maintenance plants and self-watering systems

Managing gardens, particularly in hot weather, can be challenging for an older person, so having sturdy, easy-to-maintain plants that don’t require excessive watering, repotting and more can keep gardening an enjoyable hobby instead of a chore. Self-watering systems can help with this, by providing water to plants on a regular basis so older people do not need to make this a constant part of their routine, particularly if they have mobility issues or become easily fatigued.

Sensory elements

Not everyone will have access to a large garden, but even small gardens can enhance the natural experience by creating interesting surroundings that will make time outdoors more appealing. For example, having plants with strong scents, interesting textures, bird feeders, plants that attract bees, herbs that can be used in cooking, and more. These can help to make the garden an exciting place even if an older person cannot move around in it.

What else could help older people safely tend to their garden?

Depending on the activities an older person may enjoy in their garden, there are certain other modifications that could make things safer and more comfortable. For example: 

• Specially designed tools for gardening that make it easier on those with dexterity issues, such as easy-grip or lightweight tools to minimise joint pain from arthritis.
• Automatic tools, such as electric or battery-powered ones, that make it easy to maintain the garden without strenuous action. For example, electric hedge trimmers instead of manual shears. 
• Tools with long or extendable handles, such as hoes or pruning shears, that enable older people to use them without bending over or kneeling down.
• A tool caddy to make it easy to move things around the garden, such as a tool belt or a small cart. This helps to prevent clutter in the garden while working, which could become a trip hazard.
• Knee pads to make kneeling a more comfortable position for those who cannot bend down to garden.
• Small stools for those who can bend but not kneel, so they can access plants at most heights without discomfort.
• If mowing the grass is becoming too strenuous a task, investing in a lightweight strimmer instead of a lawnmower could help, or an automatic lawnmower that runs on a timer. 

How can carers help make gardening safer and more enjoyable for older people?

While there are many adaptations older people can make to create a garden that is safer, more accessible and more enjoyable to be in, carers are often still needed to ensure their safety and comfort. Any strenuous activity, including gardening, poses some risk for older people, particularly if they have mobility issues. Caregivers can be a helping hand both by maintaining the garden themselves, and by providing support and supervision for the older person to do this independently if they wish. Caregivers may also be essential in the beginning when renovating a garden to create a safer environment for their needs. They will not be able to help with heavy lifting, and structural changes may require the help of a landscaping company, but caregivers can help plan what changes will be best according to the older person’s specific needs, arrange quotes and visits from potential contractors, manage any communication with their local council about changes, and oversee the work being done, if needed. If only small changes are required, caregivers could help measure and purchase raised beds, ergonomic tools and other helpful additions, add small touches like plants, herbs and bee gardens, and support an older person in creating their own routine in the garden.Ultimately, a carer can be as hands-on as you would like in the garden, or they can be there as a support system while allowing you to manage this independently. For general garden maintenance, keep in mind that older people in the UK are often eligible for Attendance Allowance, which could help support things like gardening – for example, hiring a gardener. For other daily and weekly maintenance tasks, a home carer can help manage these and make the process enjoyable and safe for you, while also providing a number of additional services if needed, such as: 

• Personal care (getting washed and dressed)
• Home help and housekeeping 
• Companionship 
• Overnight care 
• Specialist care
• And more 

At Home Instead, we can create the combination of services you need, so whether you only want help with your garden, or you would like to combine this with companionship, medication management, home help or something else, our experienced and friendly Care Professionals can support you. Reach out to your local Home Instead office to learn more.We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.