Gardening and Gardeners

[Morrison10]

I live in mixed residential area north of Birmingham, and need gardener now I’m unable to be outside because cool wind badly affects lungs. does anyone else experience this or is because of my PCD (see site on Health Unlocked) rather than usual lung problems. For years I’ve kept active by gardening, very disappointing can’t now do more than couple of minutes before gasping. I also find I now have problem pushing vacuum! My daughter has been doing some for me, but she is now out of action for several months due to badly broken ankle and leg - she is single doesn’t live near me. Would think it easy to find people to do these chores, but given up!

[CDPO16]

You've done well to carry on so far. Cold weather badly affects me too but I had to give up gardening 3 years ago after it being a lifetime hobby. Now have a gardener to keep on top of it.

Could slowly vacuum until 3 years ago but that is beyond me too now. I'm fortunate that my husband does the housework now. But for him I would need a cleaner too.

[Morrison10 in reply to CDPO16]

Hi, thanks for your reply, sorry it affects you same way. Long may your husband be able to support you. Sadly my husband who was day older than me and had kept himself fit and active, died after 14 year battle with NHS and his prostate cancer. Because his PSA readings were always very low, his treatment was delayed until too late. The senior clinicians know PSA unreliable. I tell every man I meet, strange topic, but hope to save lives!! Good luck to you both. Jean x

[CDPO16 in reply to Morrison10]

I'm sorry that you lost your husband Jean. I hope that you are able to find someone to help you with your garden and household jobs.

Best wishes to you, Carole x

[peege in reply to Morrison10]

Not so strange a topic Morrison10. I tell everyone that ooo, my husband's PSA was in the 140s at times. Men often put down peeing issues down to age and it's very often not the case. Re the garden, you could contact age concern, they may be able to recommend someone or a local volunteed organisation to help. P

[Morrison10 in reply to peege]

My husbands PSA was often below 1, even when he had to be catherised. Happened when riding motorbike in Jerez, southern Spain, local hospital very helpful but shocked. Wearing catheter under leathers a real test, fortunately had spare braces, belts etc. He was ok, but had to remind him I needed a loo! Happy days, bike went over there by road, and we flew out for when it arrived. Only bike on lorry with number plates, head lights etc, all others racing round Jerez race course. Easier and probably cheaper for us to do it that way, had lovely week.

[katieoxo60 in reply to Morrison10]

Sorry to hear you are widowed Jean, I am a widow also. Its sad that people are still dying from late detected cancer in these days when so much goes into cancer treatment & research. Hope you do find a gardener soon take care & stay safe

[sassy59]

Keep trying to find a gardener Jean and make sure they are reputable. We use Checkatrade. Good luck with finding someone to help with daily chores too perhaps. Wishing you well. Xxx😘🤗

[Alberta56]

Hello Jean, cold weather affects me too and winds, even when it's not too cold. Sorry your gardening's being curtailed. I'm in a similar position, but I do have someone to cut the grass and another man to help with the proper gardening. Sadly both of them were out of action in the summer and the garden looks just a tiny bit of a mess. House ditto- I was thinking of finding a cleaner when covid struck and I have been hesitating since. Good luck in finding proper help- Age UK used to help with that. I don't know if they still do.

[LilsM]

Try Age UK. After a knee injury earlier this year I was advised to contact my local Age UK. I now have a lovely gardener who comes every two weeks. He mows the lawn, trims the hedges and does the weeding. He leaves the jobs that I can still do for me, but helps move pots and baskets around for me to sit and plant up if I need it. Recently he has started pruning my very neglected climbing roses. The cost is much less than I had been quoted by independent gardeners, paid directly to Age UK, who then pay him. They can also arrange a handyman for small jobs and help with shopping or housework.

All of their employees are security checked which gives me peace of mind.

[Yatzy in reply to LilsM]

That’s very useful information, thank you. Likely to be of interest to so many of us.

[Oshgosh]

I think Age UKmay be able to help x

[Aingeful]

I am sending for a lightweight vacuum cleaner, mine is too hard to push as well.

[Tykelady in reply to Aingeful]

After my last hospitalisation I bought a lightweight cordless vacuum, not the £300 ones as on TV but a reputable make and it has been a godsend. I couldn't manage vacuum wires and oxygen wires without getting in knots,

[Aingeful in reply to Tykelady]

What make did you go for?

[Tykelady in reply to Aingeful]

Bosch £199 at Curry's but may be cheaper at Argos. Can be used as a hand held . x

[katieoxo60 in reply to Aingeful]

I have a lightweight vac and I have one up and one down stairs. Tykelady seems to have a good one. I also use a steamer for bare floors whic h is much easier than mop & bucket. Have a low maintainence garden but still can't mow the lawn anymore.

[leo60]

I am so glad you posted this Jean, I too am having problems keeping on top of my garden and find it quite upsetting to see it in a mess, knowing I can't do it! It sound as though Age UK is probably the way to go for you, but I wonder if they would help me at 60? I don't understand why it should be so difficult to find someone ...... Good luck with it xx

[LilsM in reply to leo60]

I've just checked and Age UK may be able to help if someone is over 50. So it's certainly worth looking at their website and contacting them.

[leo60 in reply to LilsM]

That’s very kind of you 😁 thank you so much! I will definitely look into it for the Spring! Thanks again xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to leo60]

I am informed AgeUK at present costs over £17 per hour but do have access to groups who may do it cheaper. Or sometimes groups do it free to gain experience. In some areas the police have offender schemes that do such things as community service work.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi , I can't go out in cold or windy weather it really does affect my breathing after a while. I also love gardening but can only do it for so long then have to take a break. Hope you have a good day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[HollyBoyd]

Hello Jean. Your post looks to be helping others too. Hopefully Age UK will be able to help you, with the garden and house chores. Wishing you best of luck xxx

[Buzzytruk]

It appears no one wants work.......Here in South Lincolnshire reliable gardeners are likened to gold dust..... With charges of £25 to mow a tiny lawn .

Over an hour heaven help us.

I have a lady gardener who comes every few months , it's not the answer but it is

a wonderful help. Thank you for suggesting Age UK......well worth investigating.......

Jo..☺️

[Snackjack]

I also have a breathing problem that is really bad when it is cold, thank you for your post I now know to contact Age UK. Best Wishes and hope that Age Uk can help us all. xx

[MoyB]

Can't help re the gardening but the vacuuming has been less of an issue for us since we got a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. We can just set it off in whichever room we want cleaned and it will do itself. You can get them from about £200, but we have found it worth the investment. We have also invested in a Shark stick vacuum which we can go around the edges and ledges with.

I was paying someone £40 a month to clean for us. We got the vacuums when the lock down stopped her coming. We paid for them out of the cleaning money. It's true, they don't clean the bathroom, kitchen or do the dusting but my husband and I can manage those things between us. It was the vacuuming that was too hard with our old Dyson.

If you consider doing the same, points to be aware of are that Roomba needs to be picked up from floor level and put down where you want it - or you can let it wander throughout your home. Some of them are programmable via a mobile phone app - too complicated for us so we got the very basic one. Emptying needs to be done every time, but is very easy as long as you can bend over as, again, it is at floor level. They cannot clean stairs. We have a bungalow so no problem for us.

Hope you manage to sort something out.

xx Moy

[Joy123 in reply to MoyB]

I’ve got a Eufy robotic cleaner. One of the best things I’ve ever bought. Keeps everywhere clean and goes under my furniture. Not good if you’ve lots of floor clutter though or cables hanging. Joy x

[Karenanne61]

Gardeners do seem to be a rarity. My brother in law is a gardener and has so much work he has to turn some down. He could work 24/7 if it didn't get dark and he didn't need sleep!

[Morrison10 in reply to Karenanne61]

Hi, thanks for that interesting information about your gardener brother-in-law. Hope he continues to have enough work, and doesn’t wear himself out!

[Karenanne61 in reply to Morrison10]

It just shows that there is work there for anyone with the know how, strength and motivation.

[katieoxo60]

My advice would be to contact Age UK, I have similar problems myself and have chosen to move to more suitable accomadation. Obviously you do not want to move and I would not reccommend as I have been trying to get moved for nearly three years now and I am still in the same house living out of boxes. Do you not have a local neighbourhood group who can help we do its called nextdoor is national and local groups can be found on site. its also endorsed by the police . Good luck

[Morrison10 in reply to katieoxo60]

Hi, thanks for response. Yes thought about moving closer to my two daughters, but having lived here since 1958 when house was new and was just married so would be emotional. Pandemic has delayed house hunting, as has my health this year. Yes have next door, could try thanks. Enquires have shown that good gardeners willing to do more than mowing lawn are rare as gold dust, as was said yesterday. Good luck to you re move.Jean x