3 Tips for Creating the Perfect Indoor Garden
3 Tips for Creating the Perfect Indoor Garden
Learn a Few Ways Home Caregivers in Staten Island, NY, Are Helping Seniors With Their Indoor Gardens
Home caregivers who are responsible for looking after the elderly are constantly find-ing ways to enhance their living environment. Much of this can be accomplished simp-ly by being present and engaging in conversation, but — like all of us — seniors need much more than that. They want to be able to solve problems, and take steps to im-prove their lives, but this can be especially challenging for those who’ve become so reliant on others for day-to-day tasks. That’s why many have found indoor gardens useful in providing seniors with activities that are calming and rewarding. If you’re un-familiar with how to assist your elderly loved one with their own indoor garden, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Grow Herbs on a Windowsill
One of the reasons gardening is so beneficial to the elderly is because of the ways in which it heightens all the senses. The colors and textures of plants and flowers provide stimulation to elderly people that they won’t get out of most activities. This is particularly the case with herbs which add to the experience with delightful and evocative scents. Herbs do very well when grown on a windowsill with regular sunlight. Also, they can thrive in small pots the size of mugs, so they’re easy for anyone to manage.
Try a Water Garden
Some home caregivers have found that it helps to be a little creative. Many people are unfamiliar with water gardens, but they can be a real delight to seniors discovering them for the first time. Water gardens are gardens that provide a home for both plants and fish. Using a plant whose roots can survive total water submersion (such as ferns), the plant’s roots provide food for the fish, while the fish’s waste feeds the plant. The fish will need their regular fish food as well, but the experience of helping to maintain a living ecosystem is a rewarding one for any senior or amateur gardener.
In-Home Mini Greenhouse
If a senior could benefit from something a little more extensive than an herb or water garden, it’s possible to build a greenhouse indoors. Because they’re stacked on shelves, these light and portable mini-greenhouses can sustain many small potted plants. If an elderly person is an experienced gardener, or is ambitious enough to care for a number of different kinds of plants, a mini-greenhouse is a perfect solution for anyone who doesn’t have access to outdoor space.
Give Us A Call
If you’d like to take on the job of providing an elderly loved one with their own indoor garden but could use some regular help as well, contact the home caregivers at Right at Home in Staten Island, NY, or give us a call at (347) 554-8400.
