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Spending time outdoors can be great for seniors during the warmer months of the year. It encourages socialization and a healthy lifestyle for those who can safely venture out the front doors for a short period of time. In fact, going outside may boost their immune system and reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. It can even improve concentration and memory.
By following a few simple tips, you can help ensure that your aging loved one enjoys time outdoors during the summer.
1. Stay Hydrated
Compared to young adults, seniors are more vulnerable to dehydration because the body loses its ability to conserve water with age. Aging adults also have more trouble adjusting to changes in temperature and are less aware of when they become thirsty.
In order to avoid dehydration, make sure that your loved one has plenty of water to drink. If they participate in an activity such as walking or vigorous stretching, you may want to have them drink beverages that contain potassium and sodium to replace the electrolytes that they lose through sweat. Check with a doctor if this is necessary or recommended.
2. Wear a Hat and Sunscreen
Like everyone else, seniors must wear sunscreen when they go outdoors. However, they’re even more at risk of suffering skin damage from sun exposure. Sunscreen will give your loved one the protection that he or she needs to prevent skin damage.
Wearing a hat further protects their skin from sun exposure.
3. Plan a Picnic
Having a picnic can be a fun, healthy activity for seniors, and you can do it in your backyard, at a long-term care facility, or at a park. The meal that you pack can be filled with healthy treats that seniors love. You can make it as simple or extravagant as you want.
At a park, seniors can watch others, like grandkids, play, and enjoy outdoor activities while they eat. You could plan some picnic games too. On the other hand, you could order takeout or sit at outdoor tables at their favorite restaurants.
In either case, choose a comfortable place to sit in the shade or take your own shade to protect everyone from the sun.
4. Go to an Outdoor Event
Local organizations often host outdoor events during the summer. Craft shows, for instance, are packed with opportunities to see pretty art, make art, and participate in lively activities. Open-air music concerts, movie shows, and theater performances are great events as well. In particular, they encourage seniors to socialize with others in the community.
Before you attend an outdoor event, though, make sure that it will have suitable restrooms for seniors. You can further ensure that seniors enjoy their time outside by taking comfortable seating, blankets, and snacks.
5. Walk-in a Garden and Observe Wildlife
Taking a slow stroll through a nice park or garden to observe beautiful flowers and plants is not only satisfying but also uplifting for morale. Going for a walk also allows seniors to observe wildlife. As a fun activity, they can catalog the butterflies and birds that they see.
Caring Home Care Can Help
It’s not always easy to make sure that your loved one gets enough safe time outside, especially when summer is in full swing. Caring Home Care’s compassionate, professional caregivers are dedicated to helping your loved one stay healthy and safe. We can plan recreational activities for your loved one both inside and outside of the home!
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