Benefits of Seniors Getting Out in Nature

Five Facts About Outdoor Exposure for Seniors

1. Being outside boosts vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is directly related to an improved immune system and a more positive outlook. Spending about 15 minutes of time each day in the sun is an ideal way for seniors to boost their vitamin D levels.

2. Nature can help boost immunity. By helping seniors feel more positive and increasing mental health, the great outdoors help seniors build and maintain healthy immune systems.

3. Being outside helps seniors feel more energized. Tired? Take a walk! Getting outside is a great way for sluggish seniors to feel more active.

4. People who spend time outside recover from injuries faster.

Exposure to natural light is powerful, and people who spend lots of time outdoors can recover from injuries faster.

5. Being outside helps seniors improve focus. Being outdoors gives the brain a break from everyday multitasking and allows it to form new memories and heal itself from over-extension. This contributes to higher attention levels and improved mental health.

How to Help Seniors Get Outdoors

Unless the senior in your life is particularly spry, a challenging hike is probably out of the question. There are, however, dozens of ways to encourage seniors to get active and spend time outdoors. Here are a few easy places to get started:

1. Hang a bird feeder outside a senior’s window. People of all ages love bird feeders, and adding one to a senior’s view is an excellent way to bring some of the dynamic and beautiful interactions of nature just a bit closer. In addition to being easy to maintain, bird feeders are also perfect for virtually any housing situation – even those with limited outdoor space.

2. Arrange pots of colorful flowers outdoors. Flowers are bright, cheery, and a wonderful way to increase a person’s enjoyment of nature. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to plant and maintain. If a senior has a patio or deck, run a rim of planted, colorful flowers around it.

3. Spend some time by water. If the senior is in decent health and can venture outdoors either by walking or in a wheelchair, spend some time near a body of water. The slow, trickling noise of moving water has been proven in multiple studies to calm people and promote a feeling of relaxation and well-being.

4. Go for a walk. Most cities and towns have paved community trail systems designed for walking or biking. What’s more, most retirement or assisted living facilities have paved walkways designed for strolling.

Because walking is a low-impact activity that boosts the heart rate slightly, it’s a wonderful way to reap the benefits of both exercises and the outdoors at once. For best results, keep walks well within the senior’s comfortable distance range and alter the route to pass a body of water, if at all possible.

5. Have a picnic. A picnic is a great way to combine the healing benefits of getting outdoors with the positive benefits of being around friends and family. For a successful picnic, pack up the loved ones and some tasty treats and head to a favorite place, like a lake or riverside, for a nice outdoor meal.

Getting Outdoors: A Critical Health Move for Seniors

Getting outdoors is a wonderful way for seniors everywhere to improve their health and wellbeing and combat some of the typical rigors of age. In addition to promoting mental and emotional health, getting outdoors is also a wonderful way for seniors to improve their physical health on a daily basis.

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