Spending time in nature has numerous benefits for seniors, including physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Being outside can be revitalizing for the mind and body, whether it’s the soothing sounds of birds, the fresh air, or the rustle of trees. For seniors who have limited mobility or prefer to stay at home, a backyard or patio provides a handy and accessible opportunity to experience nature and the benefits it offers. With the help of companion care at home providers and loved ones, they can learn more about these benefits and how to enjoy nature from their yards.
Physical Advantages of Nature for Seniors
Nature promotes physical exercise, which is essential for staying healthy as the years pass by. Seniors can enhance their flexibility, balance, and strength by engaging in simple outdoor activities such as walking, gardening, or stretching. Even simple motions, like planting flowers or caring to a vegetable garden, provide low-impact exercise that keeps muscles and joints engaged.
Sunlight is particularly beneficial for seniors because it helps the body create vitamin D, which is required for bone health and immunological function. Spending time outside, even for brief periods, can naturally increase vitamin D levels.
Emotional and Mental Benefits
Being outside in nature is a tried-and-true approach to alleviate stress and relax. Research has shown that spending time outside helps reduce cortisol levels, which is the body’s stress hormone, and boosts mood. For seniors who are anxious, lonely, or depressed, sitting in a garden or watching birds can provide a sense of calm and well-being.
Nature also promotes mindfulness. Seniors can relax and enjoy the present moment by focusing on the sights, sounds, and smells around them. This focused connection with nature can promote mental clarity and reduce feelings of isolation.
Cognitive Benefits
Spending time outside has been associated with improved cognitive function and memory. Nature-based activities are thought to stimulate the brain, improve focus, and increase creativity in seniors.
Birdwatching, gardening, and many other outdoor activities all keep the mind engaged, increasing brain health and lowering the risk of cognitive decline.
How Seniors Can Enjoy Nature in Their Backyards
A backyard or patio is ideal for seniors who wish to enjoy nature without having to leave their homes. With some modifications and help from companion care at home and loved ones, they can incorporate these ideas and start seeing the benefits right away.
While gardening is typically seen as the go-to outdoor activity, there are a few others seniors might enjoy, including:
Bird-Watching: Birdwatching is relaxing and something seniors can do from the comfort of their backyard. With the help of loved ones, they can learn what birds are in the area and set up feeders to attract them. Not only are birds enjoyable to watch, the songs they sing can also be calming.
Create a Nature Sanctuary: Even with minor modifications, seniors can transform their backyard into an enjoyable hideaway. Comfortable seating, a water feature, and the addition of plants, flowers, or wind chimes can transform any outdoor space into a tranquil space.
Stargazing: Enjoying nature can also happen at night. Seniors can sit outside in the evening and gaze at the stars with a comfortable chair and blanket. They can also take things up a notch with an easy-to-you telescope if they wish.
Nature offers various benefits to seniors that promote better physical health, reduce stress, stimulate cognitive function, and enhance emotional well-being. Companion care at home and loved ones can help seniors find ways to enjoy nature more often, even if it’s simply from their backyard.
Sources: https://naturebridge.org/blog/2019-12-31-top-5-benefits-nature
https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/time-nature-may-help-older-adults-improved-health-purpose-life
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