Gardening is an incredible activity that is beneficial to people of all ages, but when adapted appropriately can be particularly beneficial to anyone who has low mobility. It provides a great escape to the fresh air, can be done easily to fit in with any daily routine and then there is of course the joy that is provided by seeing the things that you plant grow. In the case of fruit and vegetables you can also enjoy eating the fruits of your labour.
There are specific ways in which you can make adaptations to a garden for that an individual who has low mobility or is disabled can care for their garden. This can be with or without the help of someone who provides live in home care.
Here are just a few of things you might want to consider:
Raised flower beds
The height of a raised flower bed means that gardening can be made possible for individuals who are not able to kneel or who are in a wheelchair. It is worth considering what the most appropriate height is for the person in question. Someone who is in a wheelchair may need a raised bed that is lower than those required by someone who is unable to kneel. Consider the placement of this type of bed as well. Access to all sides of the raised bed will make it much easier to attend to the planting easily so a sturdy and level pathway should be considered.
You may also want to consider placing bench seating around any raised beds. This is not only good for gardeners who are less mobile to use, but also as a great place to sit and take in the garden.
Tabletop beds
This type of flower bed may be less common, but it is a great alternative for those who are in wheelchairs. The chair can be pushed comfortably under the table allowing the gardener good access to all of the plants. These tables can be purchase pre-made or can be done as a bespoke project to suit an individual’s needs. They are made of either metal or wood.
These may not be particularly suited to growing things like vegetables. However, they are the ideal choice for flowers and leafy plants.
Access
Although we have already mentioned ensuring that you have suitable pathways around raised flower beds, there is more that should be considered under the heading of access. A live in carer can help a person with low mobility to access their garden. But, this is somewhere where there may be a number of trip hazards that you may want to think about. Steps out of the house to access the garden should not be too steep and should also have a handrail for increased security. In the case of those individuals in wheelchairs this should obviously be a ramp that isn’t too steep and has guard rails.
It is also important to ensure that pathways are wide enough, clear of overhanging plants at floor level and also, that they are not uneven as this can be a trip hazard.