Gardening Mobility Aids help?

[katmarie]

My lovely dad is 78, and recently has been diagnosed with (among other health issues) some issues in his legs and hips, which mean that he is struggling with walking for long periods, and transitioning from sitting to standing. He also can't kneel at all. He loves gardening, and it's one of his small pleasures these days so I want to help him carry on taking care of his small garden. I can get someone in to mow the grass, but he wants to be able to weed, plant and trim things himself. He has a small seat he can sit on, and I've got some long handled tools (trowel, fork, rake, pruners, etc) on the way for him, but I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for garden tools, equipment or just ideas for how to help him carry on gardening even though he's struggling to get about. At the moment he's convinced he can't plant anything this year because he won't be able to care for it.

I thught about putting raised beds in, but it's the front garden he's most keen to maintain, and I don't think he would let me tear it all up and replace it with raised beds!

A friend with mobility issues tells me the best thing for kneeling is a wedge- shaped bit of dense foam. With the standard kneeling pads, you're still kneeling on your kneecaps, whereas with a wedge of foam, the weight goes on the front of the shin bone and no pressure on the kneecaps.

I have very similar difficulties to your dad. None of the kneeling things help because I if I got down there (unlikely) I definitely couldn’t get up again.
I take my rollator into the garden and either sit on it for bits I can do whilst sitting or as a mobile seat so I can stand and sit as needed. I can still bend so can do some light bits with a trowel.
If I could afford it I would have my beds including the front made into raised beds. I pay someone to mow but don’t mind not doing that bit myself as I always found mowing boring anyway.
I haven’t found any gadgets which help. Everything seems to be aimed at people who can get down and up from a kneeler.

I have to do most of my gardening standing up so am full of recommendations for making life in the garden easier.

I can recommend a Wolf Garten long handle with the weeding knife https://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/wolf-garten-multi-change-weeding-knife-ksm and I use the little rake https://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/wolf-garten-multi-change-fan-rake-with-15cm-handle-ldmzm015 quite a bit too. I consider a gentle wee rake, you wouldn't use it for shifting gravel, but it's great for getting in between plants to pull out dead stuff and into awkward spaces. There are many other tools to choose from but I find those two are the ones I use the most. They're nice and lightweight. Actually, on thinking about it I use the WG Multi Change D grip handle more often than the long handled one but do find I use them both for different jobs.

I also use a Helping Hands classic grabber, it's filthy, but it's the garden one so that's okay. I put the weeding knife to the side of the weed and sort of flip it up then pick it up with the grabber. It takes ten times as long weeding that way than with my hands and I often get more earth than I'd want, but it's still do-able, which is the main thing.

Another tool I find very useful is the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Easy Reach Pruner. It is very sharp but the grip that keeps a hold of whatever you've cut is brilliant. I have used that for pulling out more stubborn weeds (even some bramble seedings!) and it's nearly as good as using my hands. It's a bugger if you cut the thing by mistake though and that is quite easy with it being so sharp. It takes a bit of practice. A very stiff toothbrush sized brush is useful for getting earth out of the grippy bit, if you do use it for weeding.

I'm going on a bit, sorry, I'll shut up now, but be warned, I'll be back if I think of anything else 😁🌱

Planting annuals at ground level will be nearly impossible - he won't be able to place them where he wants them, firm them in, etc.
He could weed around annuals already planted thoigh, using tools already listed.
Tall planters and/or rise-and-fall mechanisms for hanging baskets would work.
For deadheading, long handled secateurs are available but are difficult to use if eyesight is poor.
Having his outside tap at a good height and an easy-open tap handle with a shelf for liquid feeds, smaller watering can, will all help.
How is his balance? If you're thinking of big changes, consider wheelchair accessibility.