Nature can help elderly with depression

BY CAROL ABAYA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

THE SANDWICH GENERATION

Question: "My father, 81, had a stroke several months ago and has trouble using his left arm. He also has trouble walking and use a multi-pronged cane."

He has always had a garden and become depressed because he could not do the work this year Does he need some anti-depressant medicine?

Answer: While I am not a doctor, I would say "NO!" He does not need medicine. He needs a to be able to care for and look at living plants – maybe those with bright colors. This question comes up every year, and my answer is always the same.

His depression will disappear without medication if he has plants to care for. Flowers or plants that have multi-colored leaves. Come springtime, a planter on the deck railing or on a table serves the same purpose. Many people get immense satisfaction from seeing plants grow from tiny shoots to edible vegetables or fruits. Or seeing buds bloom into magnificent flowers. My father had a garden until he was 92 and his tomatoes were famous. His tombstone has vegetables on it.

Question: My mother, 90, has very limited mobility and misses being able to walk through her years-old flower gardens. She says she doesn’t want us to cut the flowers and bring them inside as that “kills” them. We can see she is getting depressed. Need advice.

Answer: Two things come into my mind. First, bring the flower garden inside, even into her bedroom. The window sill or a shelf put up across the window can house plants.

Or cement the pathways in the gardens outside and get her an electric cart, so she can take “walks” by herself.

Flowering plants always give a flower lover a positive emotional boost. My orchids bloom in the dreary winter. I always smile as I walk past these incredible delicate blooms, housed in winter in my breakfast room. This year, a green lady slipper bloomed for several months on the window sill over my sink. Another plant had lots of white and purple flowers -- and is still giving me much pleasure.

Question: "For years, my mother, 78, has been a hiker and bird watcher. Recent hip replacement surgery has ended her hiking trips. She’s becoming reclusive. What should we do?"

Answer: Colorful birds, whether in a natural outdoor environment or indoors, can provide emotionally uplifting experiences.

Recently, I visited a nearby exotic bird store. The colors were incredible, and each bird seemed to have its own personality. Most came to the side of the cage, made “talking” sounds, and wanted attention.

Take your mother to a pet store. Let her choose a bird that talks and can bring new life into her life.

More pet stories: Pets give a person unconditional love and are marvelous company.

A woman,who went into a deep depression after her father (with whom she lived) died, was given a mature poodle. The poodle, who lived to be 17 years old, gave the woman a new lease on life. The poodle went everywhere (even to work) with the woman.

A high school student gave a teacher a tiny (and ugly) puppy. The "puppy" lived to be 18. The teacher said it was the best gift anyone had ever given her.

The Sandwich Generation is reader interactive. Questions and comments are always welcome. Contact Carol Abaya via her website thesandwichgeneration.com or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .