Creative Ways to Get a Senior Outside Once Spring Arrives

Many aging in place elderly Americans don’t get the exercise or social interaction they need during colder winter months. If you’re serving as a caregiver for an older loved one, getting them outdoors once spring arrives is vitally important for their continued mental health and wellbeing. If you can get a senior outside for some fun activities, the fresh air and invigorating sunshine will also benefit you as their caregiver. Fortunately, there are several creative ways to get a senior outside in the spring, starting with these.

How Being Outdoors Benefits Seniors

If your loved one has serious springtime allergies, you may want to avoid taking them outside on high pollen count days. Otherwise, being outdoors benefits seniors in so many ways, including:

Emotional

Staying cooped up indoors for months can exacerbate negative feelings like depression, loneliness and anxiety. On the other hand, exposure to sunlight and natural chemicals released by the trees, flowers and grass boosts one’s sense of wellbeing.

Vitamin D Synthesis

Many seniors have painful conditions like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and the body’s synthesis of Vitamin D helps alleviate that discomfort. The sun’s rays help stimulate more production of Vitamin D, which is a positive.

Cardiovascular

If your senior has lung or heart problems, indoor air pollution can make them worse. Studies have found that fresh air and light exercise promote better breathing, a stronger heart and other cardiovascular benefits.

Arthritic Knee Pain Relief

Arthritic knees and old age just seem to go together, while engaging in light exercise outdoors can help reduce inflammation, stiffness and swelling in those painful joints.

Fun Outdoor Activities for Seniors

Once the weather warms up, here are some fun and creative activities that you and your senior can enjoy together:

Picnics

Pick a beautiful park nearby and pack a healthy lunch for the two of you. Picnicking at the park means engaging in some lively conversation while soaking up the sun’s rejuvenating rays. You can even bring along your senior’s favorite board games to play after lunch is over.

Fishing

Who doesn’t like doing a little angling on a warm spring day? And, fish also tend to be more active in springtime. Find a nearby pond, lake or creek, or even head to the ocean for some pier fishing. If your senior has never fished before, it’s an easy activity for them to learn.

Gardening

A vegetable or flower garden requires ongoing care that includes watering, weeding and picking as the plants grow. And, how fun will it be to enjoy the tasty vegetables once they’ve ripened, alongside a vase of colorful flowers that your senior tended to!

Petting Zoo

People of all ages like petting adorable animals. Petting zoos are a safe way for seniors who love animals to get up close and personal with them, whether it’s goats, llamas, chickens or horses.

Walks

For more mobile seniors, taking a walk several-times a week is a great way to meet others while participating in a healthy light exercise that improves balance and coordination, muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, the immune system and likelihood for a more restful sleep.

Outdoor Theater/Concerts

Many community playhouse and musical groups put on outdoor events that your senior might enjoy. These are oftentimes held at night, so pack a blanket, some nutritious snacks, and maybe even a bottle of wine, and then enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of an outdoor theatrical production or concert.

Take Pictures

We all like pretending that we’re a professional photographer for a day. Get your senior a digital or disposable camera, and then head outside to snap some pics of objects you’ve compiled on a list. When finished, help your loved one make prints of what they’ve captured, and then frame the photos or place them in a scrapbook.

Caregivers with Creative Activity Ideas for At-Home Seniors

Helping a senior loved one stay active can be hard when you’re short on time or live far away. When you need a hand, call Seniors Prefer Homecare. As a fully licensed and insured home care agency, our thoroughly screened caregivers can provide the creative activities your senior deserves to keep them aging comfortably in place right where they want to be. In addition to companionship, our highly trained aides can also perform in-home duties like light housework, personal hygiene, meals, medication reminders and transportation.

All our home care services can be individually tailored in an affordable package to put your mind at ease. To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare, or to schedule a FREE, in-home consultation for a senior in Huntsville, Tuscaloosa or AL, please visit: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com now!