Summer Activities for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

With the coming of  long, warm, and sunny days, it's a good opportunity for seniors, as well as their caregivers, to take some of their recreational activities outside to soak up some rays and take advantage of the good weather for the next couple of months. In particular, sun exposure helps to generate Vitamin D within the body, a vitamin that tends to be inefficiently produced as one grows older and which many seniors are deficient in during the colder months.
 
However, remember to keep senior loved ones properly hydrated as temperatures rise and activities increase, especially as the perception of thirst can diminish with age. This, as well as the decline in a body's ability to regulate and adjust to temperature, and the presence of other health problems & further complications arising from other medicines being taken, makes seniors particularly susceptible to temperature related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

 To counteract any potential problems, seniors should stay indoors or in other cooled & ventilated areas during peak temperatures (between 10AM and 5PM on hot days). When venturing outside, sunscreen of at least SPF 30 should always be applied to exposed skin areas and cover should always be available, whether it be nearby shady trees, a quick trip indoors, or bringing along sun parasols in case of overexposure.
 
While taking part in these fun activities, please remain watchful for any signs of fatigue, thirst, sunburn, overheating, or overexposure.

Activities

Outdoor Events

• There are a plethora of outdoor events available during the summer time to cover a wide range of interests. They include outdoor concerts (or various musical genres), movies, theatricals as well as sporting events (many available in stadiums which provide more covering & shelter from the sun), as well as browsing around craft shows, flea markets, and carnivals.
  
• For those with senior loved ones who are particularly sensitive to temperatures, seek out one of the many events that start in the late afternoon to early evening to avoid the brunt of the summer heat & sun.
• Other community events are available on certain dates and holidays only (such as fireworks and parades for the 4th of July)

Swimming & Water Aerobics

• You and your senior loved one can cool off from the summer heat with a healthy dip in a nearby indoor or outdoor pool. Exercising within the water, even with something as simple as walking, has been found to be a gentle way to build strength , balance, and range of motion while helping with conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Unlike with other forms of exercise, there is less risk of falling or incurring joint injuries.
• The YMCA and many other athletic clubs often have senior specific swimming programs available.
• Remember to always use bodies of water that are monitored for the entirety of the exercise session and that have been approved as safe for swimming.
  

Outdoor Meals

• Both the preparation of food and it's consumption can be a fun activity for the whole family or for seniors and their friends. A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs become available during the summer. Gathering the food in preparation can be an event in itself by taking the form of a fishing excursion, by visiting farmer's markets, or by directly picking fruit & vegetables from public orchards & farms, or even from a garden being maintained by your senior loved one themselves.
  
• When it comes to preparation, grilling, bonfires, and other methods of outdoor cooking (as well as the timely no-bake recipes & trying out new chilled drink recipes during the hottest days) can also be a fun senior friendly endeavor.

• When it comes to actually consuming the food, a picnic in a shady place can be a casual get-together for friends & family or try a full-blown garden party for those with a more fancy or dramatic flair.
  

Outdoor Yard Games

• The cooler hours a summer day are a good time to take normal games outside to enjoy the fresh air & scenery while playing. Some senior friendly classic yard games are horseshoes, beanbag, or ring tosses (good practice for those who may wish to try their hand at winning a prize at the summer carnivals), shuffleboard, yard darts, frisbee, and miniature golf.
  
• For seniors with hand or arm strength issues, try lightly improvised games such as balloon badminton (subbing in balloons for the balls or shuttlecocks and flyswatters for racquets).
  
• Summer is also a good season to try out improvised giant versions of normal indoor games such as Giant Connect-4, Human Chess or Checkers, Yard Dice, or Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe. These games can either by bought pre-made or DIY crafted out of a few inexpensive supplies.
  

Nature Viewing

• This is the time of the year where flora & foliage is most abundant and many animals become their most active. Bird watching, flower viewing, and other nature walks can be taken through nearby accessible parks & gardens. Remember to bring along portable seating (such as walkers that can convert into temporary chairs) for those who may get tired or may have trouble sitting on the ground or other low seating areas.  To help avoid the brunt of the summer heat, go out in morning or evening to watch the sunrise or sunset with your senior loved ones.
• For those less mobile, a drive through the countryside can be taken instead, or senior loved ones could enjoy sitting underneath a shaded tree outside, as well as visiting more accessible locations such as flower festivals, zoos, or public gardens.

• Those seniors with a green thumb of their own may enjoy haybale gardening [1, 2] or other types of gardening where plants are kept at a higher level to mitigate the need for bending over, crouching, or stooping.