Contact Us | Call for your FREE in-home assessment 781-245-1880

ABC Home Healthcare Professionals
  • HOME
  • WHY CHOOSE ABC
  • SERVICES
  • HOME CARE NEWS
  • CAREERS
  • PAY MY BILL
  • HOME
  • WHY CHOOSE ABC
  • SERVICES
  • HOME CARE NEWS
  • CAREERS
  • PAY MY BILL

ABC's LATEST

Home Care News, Advice and More
April 6, 2022

Spring planning

Safety & Care Tips For a Healthy You and an Abundant Garden

Spring is upon us and if you are one of the many people who take pride in their yards and enjoy gardening, you’ve been looking forward to this for the past couple of months. You are likely itching to get outdoors and do what you love but, before you do, we want to remind our seniors of a few things to consider before racing to the door…

Assess the weather and plan accordingly

It may sound trivial but always make sure that you check the weather before heading out to the garden. It is important that you know what to expect so that you can plan accordingly. If it is going to be a sunny day, plan to wear a hat to help shield your face from the sun and prevent sun damage to your skin. If it is going to be a hot day, make sure you bring water with you when out in the yard to stay hydrated. If the grounds are wet from a recent bout of rain, make sure you are wearing proper shoes to help you safely navigate the grass and garden beds so that you don’t slip. New England weather is always changing and sometimes without much warning so it is always a good idea to bring a light jacket with you when you are outside so that you can put it on if you get cold. You want to limit the amount of times you have to go in and out of your house so planning ahead can help you spend more time in the yard!

Always be well-equipped with sunscreen, gardening gloves, and bug spray 

It’s going to be so nice to feel the warmth of the sun when enjoying time outdoors but too much UV exposure can be problematic and contribute to medical conditions such as skin cancer, heat stroke etc. Even if it is a hazy or breezy day outside, you want to make sure you are always applying sunscreen BEFORE you head out into the yard to garden etc. Sunscreen helps stop harmful UV rays from the sun in their tracks and help ensure you don’t walk away from a great day with a bad sun burn!

Similarly, when spending time in the garden or outdoors (especially in wooded areas), it is a good idea to load up on bug spray to keep ticks away as well as prevent you from getting bit by pesky mosquitoes that can carry viruses like West Nile Virus.

Lastly, things can get quite slippery when you are working with water and soil. To prevent dropping gardening tools and supplies, make sure you have ample pairs of gardening gloves readily available. These gloves have grips on them which help you hold onto things better even when they are wet from the garden hose or covered in dirt!

Make sure you have the right tools to help you get the job done safely

Raking, digging and planting are basic gardening activities that require much physical effort. To reduce the amount of effort and joint stress caused by these activities, ensure that you or your loved one has the strong, durable, light-weight and ergonomic tools they need to be able to help them do what they need to do as safely as possible.

Don’t over-do it

Be mindful of when it’s time to take a break. Working in the yard or in the garden is great exercise but can be physically taxing- especially if you haven’t been used to such exercise in the past. It is easier to complete small tasks instead of taking on large, overwhelming ones so try to break tasks down in 5-minute intervals with break times in between to ensure you are not working yourself too hard.

Ensure ease of access to and from the yard and/or garden

Plant beds that are raised and narrow plots can help prevent one from having to get into uncomfortable positions when tending to the garden. In addition, it is a good idea to ensure that the area surrounding the garden is free of rocks, weeds or tree roots that could pose as trip hazards. The same idea goes for the gardening supplies and tools. Best to keep everything that your loved one needs within an arm’s reach. Make these supplies and tools as easy to find as possible. If they are currently stored at the back of a garage or shed, ensure these are moved to the front and not blocked by any other items so that they can be easily accessed once it comes time for gardening.

In addition to ensuring the ease of access to the garden, gardening tools and supplies, it is equally important to make sure that the means of access from the home to the yard and/or garden is safe and accessible. Here are a few things to look for:

  1. Check stairs for any cracks, disrepair or evidence of them detaching from the structure as these could become trip hazards if not tended to
  2. Make sure there are railings on stairs and that, if railings are already present, they are sturdy and secure to provide proper support
  3. Secure any loose bricks or stones in the exterior walkways as these could also become trip hazards
  4. Ensure that doorways are clear and free from any obstructions
  5. If you or someone you love is having trouble in getting and out of the home, assess if grab rails or enhanced mobility options are required

ABC Home Healthcare Professionals has been keeping older adults living safely and independently in their homes for over 15 years and we continue to strive to provide the best at-home care experience possible for our clients and their families. One of the premier services we offer is In-Home Modifications whereby one of our licensed ABC contractors will come to your home to install grab rails, handicap ramps etc. to help make the home more accessible for you or your loved one. If you want to “spring” off to a good start this season, give us a call today at 781-245-1880 to schedule your home safety assessment!

 

Previous StoryQuestions to ask before being discharged
Next StoryParkinson’s Awareness

Related Articles

  • Tax Tips for Older Adults
  • Retirement

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Past Issues of Our E-newsletter

Missed an issue? Read it online!

• February 2023
• January 2023
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• July 14, 2022
• June 21, 2022
• June 1, 2022
• May 2022
• April 2022
• March 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• July 2021
• June 2021
• May 2021
• April 2021
• March 2021
• February 2021

Sign Up for ABC's Monthly Newsletter

Have ABC's newsletter delivered right to your inbox.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: ABC Home Healthcare Professionals, 233 Albion Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880, http://www.abchhp.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Recent Posts

  • Tax Tips for Older Adults March 15, 2023
  • Retirement January 16, 2023
  • Resources November 10, 2022
  • Caregiver Burnout November 10, 2022
  • Breast Cancer Awareness October 18, 2022

Categories Dropdown

Archive

  • March 2023 (1)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • November 2022 (2)
  • October 2022 (1)
  • September 2022 (1)
  • August 2022 (2)
  • July 2022 (1)
  • June 2022 (2)
  • May 2022 (2)
  • April 2022 (3)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • October 2021 (3)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • June 2021 (2)
  • May 2021 (6)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (4)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (4)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (3)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • February 2019 (4)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)

OFFICE LOCATIONS

ABC Home Healthcare
Corporate Office:
233 Albion St.
Wakefield MA 01880

Regional Offices:
Gloucester – 281R East Main St.

Lawrence – 354 Merrimack St.
Bldg 1 Entrance A Suite 277

Phone: 781-245-1880
Email info@abchhp.com

PREFERRED PROVIDER

ABC is an approved vendor for:
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
• Area Hospice Providers
• Long Term Care Insurers
• Veterans Administration

MEMBERSHIPS

ABC is an active member of:
• Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts
• Home Care Aide Council
• SOMWBA Certified Women Business Enterprise
• Aging & Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • ABC CAREGIVNG TEAM INFORMATION

Copyright © ABC Home Healthcare Professionals. All Rights Reserved