Spring Activities for Seniors
By: Kayla Orange
Welcome, springtime! The cold, blustery winter days are behind us, and mother nature is quickly ushering in the warm, cheerful days ahead. The delightful springtime weather makes it the perfect time to get out and get active.
Importance of Activities for Seniors
Engaging in routine social, mental, and physical activity is essential for everyone, but it's especially vital for the elderly. Staying active offers many health benefits and has been proven to enhance seniors' overall quality of life.
Beneficial activities can range from reading to physical activity, such as light exercise. For optimal benefits, it's recommended that seniors combine various activities that are both physical and mental in nature.
Benefits of Activities
Most of us know that maintaining an active lifestyle year-round supports physical health. Still, you may be surprised to learn that it can also significantly impact mental well-being. Studies have shown that regular activity improves cognition and mood, strengthens bones, muscles, and joints, helps prevent chronic diseases, and staves off depression and anxiety.
Types of Activities
Gardening. Spring is the perfect time to start growing most vegetables, herbs, and flowers, which is another reason to get outside when the weather is nice. Gardening is a great way to increase physical activity and also helps improve coordination and mobility. Seniors who can't safely stand or kneel for long periods of time can still enjoy gardening by using container gardens or raised beds that can be tended from a seated position. Regardless of which kind of gardening you choose, you are sure to reap an array of health benefits and the satisfaction of growing your own food and flowers.
Outdoor Workouts. Many seniors report spending countless hours indoors throughout the winter. After being cooped up for so long many welcome the opportunity to get outside for a daily workout. Performing low-impact exercises outdoors can:
· Boost Vitamin D
· Decrease boredom
· Increase energy
· Promote quicker healing
So, get outside and get moving!
Volunteering. Festivals, fairs, charity runs, community cleanups, and more abound as the weather gets warmer. These kinds of events offer excellent volunteer opportunities for the elderly. Volunteering can encourage physical activity, but even more importantly, it allows seniors to socialize, meet new people, and combat loneliness and isolation. Volunteering can also be very fulfilling and give a sense of purpose.
Local Festivals. So many of us have fond memories of Springtime festivals and carnivals. The nostalgia of the sights, sounds, and tastes we associate with these outdoor events often invoke feelings of joy and happiness.
Wherever your interests lie, be it flowers, animals, or special events, you probably don't need to look far to find a festival this spring that fits the bill. Check local newspapers or websites for a list of local festivals and make plans to attend a few with friends, family, or your caregiver.
Ways to Get Your Client Involved in Activities
Caregivers often have the most significant influence on how frequently their clients get outside. Considering the many benefits of getting outside, caregivers should schedule regular times to spend outdoors with their clients daily, weather permitting. Outings can include:
· Walking or working
· Attending festivals
· Transporting clients to senior centers to participate in outdoor activities and socialize with other seniors
· Simply sitting outside to get some fresh air
Professional Homecare Services at Royal Care
Springtime is here, and Royal Care has lots of ideas for activities seniors can safely enjoy outdoors. Royal Care caregivers are encouraged to create a list of routine activities that can be incorporated into the daily lives of the seniors they care for. This bit of forward-thinking can help ensure that ideas are readily available, increasing the likelihood of implementing them.
If you or someone you know is in need of professional caregiving services, contact us today.