Summertime with its warm weather is a great time to amp up your activities if you have a loved one who is a senior. Or if you are a senior yourself.

With the transition from late spring to the warm weather, longer hours of daylight, and bright, sunny mornings, summer beckons to enjoy nature and the outdoors. 

There are plenty of other options as well. Here are five perfect ideas to help you enjoy the summer if you’re a senior, or to encourage your senior loved one to enjoy the summer.

1. Go for a walk!

We strongly recommend a walk outside, but it’s all about the timing of it. Take advantage of the cooler parts of the day such as the early morning or the evening when the sun sits low on the horizon.

Find someone or a group to walk with if you are an extrovert. For introverts, a walk is a great time to enjoy solitude and the sounds of nature.

You’ll get both physical and mental benefits with a walk. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes exercise such as a vigorous walk as helping boost your immune system while also helping with your memory and creativity.

2) Try bird watching or check up on nature.

An estimated 45 million people in the U.S. are bird watchers, which is about one out of every seven people. Watching the birds and listening to their songs is a great way to engage in nature and relax. You can even watch birds from inside on those hot summer days. 

You can also watch for other wildlife such as squirrels, rabbits, or even deer. Depending on the environment, you may be surprised at what you see and hear!

3) Get in the pool!

An excellent way to beat the heat is to get in the pool. Swimming or doing water aerobics is a low-impact and healthy form of exercise for seniors who may have arthritis or joints that are stiff. The benefits of exercising in the pool are many, ranging from helping with bone density to lowering your pain.

4) Work your mind!

You can take part in nature and work your mind by enjoying a book to read while you’re outside. Book clubs are great ways to find new books to read, or simply enjoy some quiet time yourself with a good book.

Other options for engaging your mind include puzzles, crosswords or other word games. Any or all of these options helps your mind, your concentration, memory, and leads to cognitive benefits.

5) Try something new!

Have you ever thought of trying your hand at painting? Or a craft, such as knitting? Trying a craft or knitting or sewing are beneficial to making new positive memories. You’ll boost your mood and stimulate the senses as well.

A CARING-FIRST ENVIRONMENT

Senior living communities like Regency at Augusta are precisely that—a community. Residents become friends and even family, and a caring team is there to help them maintain their quality of life.

At Regency at Augusta, we offer both Assisted Living and Memory Care and we care with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Residents first and Teamwork. We like to call it Caring with H.E.A.R.T.™!

If you believe a senior living community would benefit your loved one, get in touch with us. Schedule a visit or download a brochure today!