Summer is many an American’s favorite season, especially among the younger crowd. However, there’s a significant dip in the summer season’s popularity among the population of adults aged 55 years and older. Unfortunately, for many older adults, many of the classic summer activities are unsuitable for them. However, you can make this year’s summertime much more family-friendly so that even your older loved ones can enjoy summer to the fullest by planning these safe, elderly-friendly activities to do in summer!
Water-Based Activities
You don’t have to count your older loved ones out of pool day! Water-based activities such as swimming and water aerobics are light forms of exercise that older adults are perfectly able to participate in. Engaging in physical activities in the water is a great way to beat the heat, helping you and your loved ones to stay fit during even the most sweltering of days. Swimming and other water-based forms of exercise are low-impact enough for even individuals with mobility issues such as arthritis to engage in. Furthermore, swimming brings older adults several health benefits like improved bone density, flexibility, and even reduce back pain.
Spending a Day at the Park
Nowadays, parks are designed for individuals aged 1 to 100. Parks are a beautiful place to engage in some fun in the summer! For example, even a simple walk in the park can go a long way in keeping you and your mature loved ones’ health status positive, making you in the picture of health. Walking strengthens one’s bones, improves one’s mobility, and encourages your body to produce endorphins that reduce pain, which are all important factors in an older adult’s wellness.
Gardening
If you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, gardening is a fantastic new hobby for anyone of any age to take up. Developing a green thumb allows you to enjoy fresh and ripe fruits and vegetables that you can incorporate into seasonal dishes. Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended for people of any age to consume every day, thanks to their superb nutritional value. Furthermore, gardening can lower you and your loved one’s risk of suffering from several types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Not to mention, the process of nurturing a plant and being able to harvest a beautiful crop is exceptionally rewarding!
Playing Golf
Summer is prime golf season due to the long days and warm weather that give you ample opportunity to hit the courses. Golf is a popular sport among players of all ages, and makes for a great summer workout, due to all the walking involved. Whether you’re hanging out with family and friends at a mini golf course or attending a golf summer camp together, golf is always enjoyed best with your loved ones. Golf is as beneficial to the mind as it is to the body, encouraging the body to release endorphins, known as “happy hormones”, and strategic thinking which improves critical thinking skills in the elderly.
Our senior living options include various amenities to support and enable retirees’ lives so that you and your loved ones can enjoy fulfilling, satisfying summers as part of our senior living community.
