It doesn’t take an expert in gerontology to tell you that there are certain activities that definitely become more of a challenge as you age. If you’re like me, gardening is a rite of summer that  I can’t imagine not experiencing. It is my therapy that relieves a stressful day, and a bit of a workout while I’m at it. Yet I also know that the days of bending straight-from-the-hip for hours on end are long gone; the arthritic fingers become particularly “ouchy” with repeated pulling, tugging and trimming.

According to Ohio State University’s Jack Kerrigan, gardening can actually be used in a therapeutic way to improve the physical and emotional conditions, cognitive ability and social interactions of older adults. He suggests the following gardening adaptations that can result in continued participation:

Vision difficulties? Paint tools a bright color. Use larger seed or pelletized seed. Grow plants with more tactile and olfactory stimulation. Use vertical planting. Create smooth surfaced paths.

Mobility issues? Raised beds reduce the need to bend or kneel. The edges of raised beds can provide a place to sit while gardening. Stools provide an intermediate step between standard gardening and raised beds. Adaptive tools with better leverage and improved grips help make gardening easier.

More susceptible to summer’s heat? Try gardening early in the morning or late in the day. Drink water and juice and avoid alcoholic beverages. Shower frequently or splash water on the body. Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothes that cover exposed skin. Wear a hat. Apply sunscreen. Eat light meals. Discuss heat related problems that may be complicated by medications with a physician. Wear gloves. Soak cuts and punctures in a mild salt solution (1 teaspoon per cup of water) until scab forms.

Adaptive tools combined with light, easily worked soil allow gardening activities to continue. Indoor and container gardening projects are more appropriate. Frequent resting periods and a cool place to rest are needed. Bathroom facilities should be near the garden.

Meanwhile, in answer to the growing number of active seniors, manufacturers have begun to provide a number of “ergonomic” gardening tools ease the task at hand … literally.

Easi Grip has created a gardening fork, trowel and cultivator that has includes a “soft feel” grip as well as an an ergonomically angled handle that alleviates strain and discomfort. All three fit into the Easi Grip Arm Support Cuff that relies more on the forearm and upper arm for strength rather than the wrist or fingers.

They also offer a set of four “Long Reach Garden Tools” for gardeners who work in a seated position to reach ground level without bending over. The Ergonomically angled handle keeps the hand and wrist in a natural and comfortable position, while the length of the tool eliminates the strain on the back and shoulders of those who garden in a seated position. Likewise, the Garden Seat Caddy definitely takes the strain off the lower back and knees. A seat with four sturdy (rubber) tires (and metal wheels) and a tray under the seat for holding your garden tools is perfect to weed, plant, snip and pick from your garden. (These tools can be found online at http://www.wrightstuff.biz/eagrgatoseto.html.)