Garden Therapy: Relieving Stress through Horticulture

Gardening is one of the most therapeutic activities one can engage in. There is simply something about working with nature and its beauty. Since the beginning of time, the positive health benefits of gardening have been obvious. Curative for people of all ages, seniors especially, horticulture provides hours of enjoyment and stress relief by interacting with the wonders of nature.

Watering plants, planting seeds, pruning trees, all of the gardening activities will lift one’s spirits, making them feel alive and peaceful. Horticulture, itself, adds a sense of purpose and meaning to a person’s life.

Healthy Horticulture

Gardening is a key tool for improved health by providing exercise, stress reduction and relaxation. For many, a garden can be a place of escape, reducing stress levels and related issues like heart disease.  There has been an increased awareness in the restorative value of plants in hospitals and senior centers, and “healing gardens” are continuously being constructed in such places.

Whether indoors or out, horticulture is a remedial activity that stimulates neurological wiring while refreshing the soul. Because gardening requires a systematic approach, horticulture has many positive effects on those with disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s, where the activity has proven to slow decline and enhance thought processes. It also keeps mature seniors involved and active, leading to a more positive mental attitude and warding off depression.

According to Eva Shaw, PhD, author of Shovel It: Nature's Health Plan, gardening not only reduces stress, but also lowers blood pressure. A study done by Kaiser Permanente revealed that brainwave activity of a gardener mirrored that of someone praying or meditating.

Physical Benefits

Not only does gardening have a positive effect one’s emotional state and well being, it can also be a great form of moderate exercise. Manual labor and the continuous motion of working with ground and soil can help keep the body limber and responsive.

Based on scientific research, mild to moderate gardening activities can burn up to 300 calories per hour, whereas more strenuous horticultural activities can burn up to 600 calories per hour. For lawn maintenance, such as mowing and trimming, one can burn up to 360 calories every hour.

Nutritional and Cost-effective

Vegetable gardens are an inspiration in and of themselves. Those who have planted home vegetable gardens are known to eat more fruits and vegetables, reaping the benefits of improved nutrition while saving money in the meantime. For those on fixed or limited incomes, vegetable gardens offer a nice selection of fresh foods they may otherwise not buy or eat.

Tribute Homes specializes in building retirement communities for active adults 55 and over in North and South Carolina. For more information, visit us at www.tributehomesusa.com or contact us at 800.381.2984.

5 Great Exercises for Staying Limber

Remaining loose and limber in your senior years is not impossible. With some dedication and a daily routine of a few simple exercises and activities, your body can remain flexible and pliable throughout your golden years. Here are five great exercises/activities to consider:

Swimming

Long known for not only it’s refreshing effects, swimming offers great advantages to those who may be suffering from arthritis or other forms of diseases that have brought on stiffening of the limbs. Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout and uses many different muscles, joints and ligaments, strengthening and limbering up stiff areas of the body. Breast stroke, back stroke or doggy-paddle your way to a healthy limber body!

Walking

Walking is not only a pleasurable experience it is one of the most desired of all activities for remaining fit and limber. Depending on the pace and severity of the walk and trail, this activity can burn some serious calories all while enhancing endurance and strength. Be sure to take along some water to rehydrate, especially during the hot summer days when you will lose a great deal of water during your walking workout.

Yoga

Yoga has fast become a popular fitness activity, and for many reasons. Posturing, breathing techniques, stretching and meditation all combine to make it one of the most physically stimulating exercises leading immense flexibility and limberness for those who engage in it. Additionally, yoga is a form of relaxation that brings great peace and tranquility to the soul, warding off sickness and fighting depression.

Golfing

Golf enthusiasts know firsthand the wonderful benefits of a good game on the green. From social stimulation, to quiet time alone, golfing offers you an opportunity to walk and move about at your own pace for as long as you desire. The fact that you are outdoors is another physical benefit to the game.

Strength Training

One thing that seniors face as they get older is the loss of muscle mass. A great way to prevent that from happening is to develop a mild daily or weekly routine of strength training. Whether you decide to use free weights or a machine, the results will be a more limber body, reduced muscle loss and toning. Be sure to begin with light, easy weights and give your body a day’s rest in between workouts. Focusing on certain sections of the body at one time works well as you can schedule your upper body one day and then your lower body the next.   

Staying limber in your senior years can be a lot of fun and you will reap tremendous rewards for doing so. Have fun!

Tribute Homes specializes in building retirement communities for active adults 55 and over in North and South Carolina. For more information, visit us at www.tributehomesusa.com or contact us at 800.381.2984.

Picking the Perfect 55+ Community

When it comes to setting down for the golden years, boomers should make sure their choice meets their social, cultural and recreational requirements.

No one knows 55 communities and retirement home buyers better than Tribute Homes. A leading new home builder with resort-style homes in hot retirement spots Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina, we have a pretty good idea what it takes to help you discover the

retirement community that is perfect for you.

Determine Your Retirement Priorities

The best way to begin your 55 community hunt is to take stock of the life you want to live in your retirement. Some of those priorities might include:

●Climate

●Proximity to Amenities

●Cost of Living

●Active vs. General Community

●City, Country or Beach Living

●Activities

If you are like most retirees, you will opt for an active adult living community that caters to recreational and social activities. After all, retiring from work is not the same as retiring from life. As a matter of fact, retirement is when the living begins!

Most baby boomers want convenient availability of amenities. Clubhouses, fitness centers, recreational facilities, hiking, walking and jogging trails and cultural events are at the center of their retired, yet active, lives.

Conduct a Financial Background Investigation

Prior to moving into your perfect 55 community, be sure to investigate it thoroughly for any financial cracks or concerns. This is crucial, as there are many communities with serious financial problems, either present or soon to come. Some of the major issues to watch for are foreclosures and non-dues paying residents which lower property values and create negative, tense atmospheres in neighborhoods. A good idea is to obtain past financial statements, condo/HOA association documents, and HOA minutes.

Another good way to research a community is to study it online. Demographics can be extremely insightful when it comes to getting a snapshot of a certain 55 community. This is another good way of conducting important due diligence that will greatly pay off in the end.

Pay Them a Visit

There is nothing like being there when it comes to getting a good feel for a 55 community. If at all possible, take the necessary time to go and visit several communities that may be of interest, even staying a night or two. Be sure to talk to current residents to find out just what 55 living in that community is really like. Also, be sure to explore the surrounding area of the community. Take a drive out to the local areas where the supermarkets and stores are located. This is another great way to get an idea of the lifestyle that you will be investing in.

Tribute Homes specializes in building retirement communities for active adults 55 and over in North and South Carolina. For more information, visit us at www.tributehomesusa.com or contact us at 800.381.2984.