The Derby

Gardening is Great for Retirees

The secret is out. Gardening has numerous health benefits for those of retirement age! Let’s face it. As we age, we often cannot do what we used to do. But gardening helps us to move more, and movement lubricates our joints, helps maintain or extend range of motion, and strengthens our mobility. Balance and coordination are also improved. Gardening involves bending, squatting, pulling, and stretching. And you can burn 200–400 calories per hour planting and pulling weeds! To minimize the risk of injury, increase blood circulation, and enhance muscle control, be sure to stretch before heading to the garden. Gardening stimulates the mind. It helps relieve stress and provides an escape into a plant paradise. It also requires eye-hand coordination that keeps your brain and body in sync. Gardening decreases the risk of dementia. Gardeners are continuously thinking about what to plant, where to plant, and how to take care of the plants, which keeps the mind active and busy. A dose of sunshine while gardening is a good mood regulator and helps calcium absorption, bone health, and the immune system. Remember to use sunscreen and wear clothing to protect from overexposure to the rays though. Various tools and techniques are available to ease the work of gardening tasks for older gardeners. Raised beds are not new in the gardening arena but the adaptation of raising them to waist height decreases or eliminates the hard bending required in garden maintenance. Vertical gardening also decreases the bending. Many vegetables can be trellised as opposed to spreading low on the ground. This not only helps ease the strain on back muscles but helps prevent vegetable diseases and keeps vegetables clean.

106 West Main Street PILOT MOUNTAIN, NC

Natural Products & Education

Herbs • SUPPLEMENTS • Essential Oils

Homeopathy • NATURAL BODYCARE

GROCERIES • Petcare • AND MORE STORE HOURS

Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 – 5 :00 Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00 Mail Order Available My favorite tool is my kneeler stool. It has a thick pad to cushion my knees when I am planting and weeding. It has hand grips that make standing back up easier. The kneeler can be flipped over and becomes a higher stool for sitting when tending to plants. Ergonomic pruners are the trick to pruning! Their comfortable handles and gears make cutting easier. Some of the models rotate as they cut, which reduces the strain on hand muscles. When selecting a pruner, get one that is the right size. Measure by closing the pruner and resting it in your hand. The handle should stick out about ½ inch below your little finger. The width can be evaluated by opening the pruners. One handle should fit in the crook of your thumb with your hand extended and the little finger should be ¼ inch beyond the other handle. If you cannot reach the opposite handle with your fingertips, your hand will not rest properly between cuts. Knowing how to prune correctly also eases the task of trimming and shaping plants. Hold the pruner hand so the wrist is in a straight position. This is going to be your strongest grip and you will use less exertion to make a cut. Try not to bend the wrist in a downward position because you will lose strength and you may develop tendinitis.

Other tips to ease the strain of gardening are to take breaks often, rotate tasks, and stay hydrated. For more information about finding ergonomic tools, modified equipment, or assistive technology, visit the National AgrAbility Toolbox at www.agrability.org/toolbox/.

“Celebrating 83 YEARS OF SERVICE in the Area!”

www.thederbyrestaurant.com 1901 S. Main St • Mt. Airy • (336) 786-7082

The Truth About Senior Living During COVID-19

With the COVID-19 outbreak, Americans have adopted social distancing, mask wearing, and selfquarantine protocols. These practices mitigate the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 and keep vulnerable populations, like seniors, protected from unnecessary exposure. For a quarter of seniors over age 65, isolation and loneliness are common, especially for those who live by themselves. However, for residents of RidgeCrest retirement community in Mt. Airy, communal living has provided them with a safe social life, freshly prepared meals, compassionate care, and peace of mind for their families.

“The safety of our Members is our top priority,” said Wendy Guy, executive director of RidgeCrest. “We’ve continued to provide all of the care, services, programming, and family time that our Members are used to, but in a new way.”

RidgeCrest has remained vigilant in safety measures and has adapted the inner workings of their community for peace of mind. Team members and thoroughly vetted visitors abide by rigorous health and safety standards. These include disinfecting surfaces throughout the day, daily staff and resident checks, social distancing, as well as full transparency and updates from the community’s leadership team.

“People need people and we need those connections, now more than ever,” says Jennifer Johnson, RidgeCrest’s social director. “Having a schedule of activities and events gives our Members the opportunity to step outside of their home and socialize in a safe setting.” Johnson provided activities for everyone to enjoy, including sunrise yoga, water rockets, flower art, and themed weeks like “Christmas in July,” with frozen hot chocolate, Grinchmas green smoothies, candy cane volleyball, and a Parade of Whimsy filled with holiday caroling! Having events like these in your own home decreases isolation and loneliness among seniors by giving Members the opportunity to interact with friends and neighbors each day.

The community’s full-service dining team makes mealtime and grocery shopping easy. Menus are personalized for residents’ tastes and include starters, soups, salads, sides, casual eats, and rotating specials. Residents choose their meals – which are delivered freshly prepared to their home with no need to maneuver through crowded grocery store isles and checkout lines. However, if they’re craving their favorite snacks or want to prepare a meal at home, the dining department offers grocery delivery, with their requested items dropped off right at their doors.

Times have changed at RidgeCrest, but their mission has not. Team members are caring professionals dedicated to quality services in a community where Members live longer, healthier, happier lives. The Weller Life. To learn more about RidgeCrest, call their Lifestyle Advisors at (336) 755-2995 or visit Ridge-Crest.com

This is a paid advertorial for Ridgecrest, a premier retirement community in Mount Airy, NC