Page 20 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 17, 2024 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or v y io iori by Jim Miller A lifelong resiWays to Make Gardening Easier as You Age Dear Savvy Senior, What gardening tips can you off er to older seniors? I love to putter around and work in the garden, but my back and knees have caused me to curtail my gardening activities, which I miss greatly. Older Gardner Dear Older, There’s no doubt that gardening can be hard on an aging body. Joints stiff en up, kneeling for prolonged periods hurts, and bending and reaching can strain muscles. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your hobby. You just need to garden diff erently, add some special tools and know your limits. Here are some tips that may help you. Limber Up With gardening, good form is very important as well as not overdoing any one activity. A common problem is that gardeners often kneel or squat, putting extra pressure on their knees. Then, to spare their knees, they might stand and bend over for long stretches to weed, dig and plant, straining their back and spine. To help protect your body, you need to warm up before beginning. Start by stretching, focusing on the legs and lower back. And keep changing positions and activities. Don’t spend hours weeding a fl owerbed. After 15 minutes of weeding, you should stand up, stretch, and switch to another activity like pruning the bushes or just take a break. It’s also important that you recognize your physical limitations and don’t try to do too much all at once. And, when lifting heavier objects, remember to use your legs to preserve your back. You can do this by keeping the item close to your body and squatting to keep your back as vertical as possible. Get Better Tools The right gardening equipment can help too. Kneeling pads can protect knees, and garden seats or stools are both back and knee savers. Lightweight garden carts can make hauling bags of mulch, dirt, plants or other heavy objects much easier. And long-handled gardening and weeding tools can help ease the strain on the back by keeping you in a standing upright position versus bent over. There are also ergonomic gardening and pruning tools with fatter handles and other design features that can make lawn and garden activities a little easier. Fiskars and Felco make a number of specialty tools that you can buy online or at local retail stores that sell lawn and garden supplies. Also check out Gardeners.com and RadiusGarden.com, two online stores that sell specialized gardening tools and equipment that are very helpful to older gardeners. Make Watering Easier The chore of carrying water or handling a heavy, awkward hose can also be diffi cult for older gardeners. Some helpful options include lightweight fabric or expandable hoses instead of heavy rubber hoses; soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden; thin coil hoses that can be used on the patio or small areas; a hose caddy and reel for easier hose transport around the yard; and a self-winding hose chest that puts the hose up automatically. There are also a variety of ergonomic watering wands that are lightweight, easy to grip, and reach those hard to-get-to plants. To fi nd these types of watering aids check with your local lawn and garden supplies stores or visit Gardeners.com. Bring the Garden to You If your backyard garden has become too much to handle, you should consider elevated garden beds or container gardening – using big pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, barrels or tub planters. This is a much easier way to garden because it eliminates much of the bend and strain of gardening but still provides the pleasure of making things grow. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. dent of Malden, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading at the age of 92. Bill was born in Malden in 1931, attended Malden Public Schools, and met the love of his life, Carmella (Fucci) while in high school. They were married for more than 71 years and together raised eleven children. Bill graduated from Bentley College and enlisted in the Navy as a young man. He was a CPA for more than 55 years with his own practice in Maplewood Square. He loved Malden and found time to volunteer in his community as the Commissioner of Malden Babe Ruth Baseball (19711979), and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council #105 (1984-1990). He served as President of the Holy Name Society of Sacred Hearts Parish, where he also served, along with Carmella, as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and as a PreCana instructor focused on family and raising children. Bill enjoyed a bad pun, playing cribbage, Mills Brothers music, James Cagney fi lms, westerns, camping with his children when they were young, traveling to Hawaii, Italy, Puerto Rico, and in later years visiting family who lived out of state. Along with Carmella, he is survived by his children William Nelson and partner Sajjad Karim of France, Kathleen Nelson of Peabody, Patricia Mooney and husband Paul of Wilmington, Richard T. Nelson and wife RobynAnn of TX, Robert Nelson and partner Mary Kate Wiley of MO, Christine Nelson-Rivers and wife Jude Rivers of Melrose, Paul NelOBITUARIES William C. "Bill" Nelson son and husband Patrick Fitzgerald of Malden, Jeanne Vaillancourt and husband Daniel of NH, Daniel Nelson and wife Dorothy of AZ, sister Maureen Newman and brother-in-law Dan of UT, 17 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his parents Carl and Marie (Senerchia) Nelson, brothers George and Carl, sons Michael and Stephen, and infant son Richard Edward. Relatives & friends were invited to visiting hours at the Breslin Funeral Home, Malden on Wednesday May 15th. His Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph Church, Malden on Thursday and services concluded with interment in Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of fl owers please consider a donation in Bill's memory to Sawtelle Family Hospice House, 320 Haverhill St, Reading, MA 01867 where he was treated so well during his fi nal days. David S. Pinkney Of Malden. Passed away at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital on May 11, 2024. He was 60 years old. David was born in Malden on March 2, 1964. Beloved son of the late Robert and Deborah (Mountford) Pinkney. Loving father of Tammy (Pinkney) Ferguson and her husband Chris Ferguson. Grandfather of Skylar Ferguson, Sarah Ferguson. Fiancé of Sherry Hobart, her son Justin Wise Hobart. Brother of Debbie Pinkney, Gail Pinkney, Jon Pinkney and his wife Sheri, Daniel Pinkney and partner Mark, Karen Pinkney and the late Robert J. Pinkney. Uncle to Adam Pinkney and his wife Katie, Jenna Pinkney, Melissa Pinkney and Cody Steele. David graduated from Melrose High School class of 1982. He enjoyed cooking and grilling different foods especially his “massive meatballs” for his family and friends. Also, he was a lifelong fan of the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots. David enjoyed taking rides on his motorcycle. He loved his dogs Sheba & Rocky. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM in the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster Street, Melrose. A funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM in the funeral home to celebrate David’s life. Interment will be private. Donations may be made in David's memory to the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. 02130. Rose Mattuchio Of Malden. Passed away on May 9, 2024. Beloved wife of Francis Mattuchio. Loving mother of Lorraine Ann Mattchio, Patrick & Debbie Mattuchio Adored Grandmother of Allan and his wife Kara O’Neil-Freeman, Tyler Anthony Freeman, Hayley Anne Freeman, Jimmy Mattuchio & Melissa and her husband Jamie Kirkpatrick. Great-grandmother of Kylie Freeman & Rian Santiago. Sister of Breige,Sean,Anne, Patrick & Francie. Rose is also survived by many nieces, nephews & good friends. A wake was held at Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, Everett on Thursday, May 16th. Interment will be private. In lieu of fl owers, the family asks for memorial contributions to be made in her name to American Stroke Association 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231 Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/ Advocate.news.ma
21 Publizr Home