Outdoor Adventures for Seniors: Planning for Safety
Spending time outside can support local Oklahoma seniors’ health. With the proper safety precautions, seniors can experience the local flora and fauna and fill their lungs with fresh air. You’d be surprised at how much even 20 minutes outside in the fresh air can do for your mood.
If you and your aging loved one want to spend time outside this summer, prioritizing safety doesn’t mean you’re stuck close to home. Instead, it’s all about taking the proper precautions and working within your limits. Visiting Angels SE-OKC caregivers are also here to lend a helping hand.
Benefits of Outdoor Activities
Spending time outside can help seniors re-engage with their surroundings and feel closer to nature. No strict amount of exercise is required for being outside; instead, it’s more about experiencing all the sounds, sights, and smells the outdoors offers. In addition, most outdoor recreational spots are free to access.
While outdoor activities may not cost anything monetarily, there’s still much to be gained. In fact, spending time outside can help bring a sense of peace and clarity to the mind. Supporting mental health goes hand-in-hand with improving physical health. Even just breathing in deeply can help seniors feel more grounded.
Some of the best benefits of the outdoors include companionship and socialization. Seniors can make new memories with their friends, spouses, and loved ones or even add a new friend to their support system. As long as the weather is good, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
26 Outdoor Adventures for Seniors
If you’re looking for new ways to spend time outside and still be safe, the following list includes a variety of ideas that take mobility and preference into account:
- Take a walk
- Plan a picnic
- See live music or a performance
- Visit the farmer’s market at Scissortail Park or the Oklahoma Public Market
- Go for a swim
- Journal in a park
- Try gardening
- Take a day trip to Turner Falls
- Dine outside
- Meditate
- Enjoy lawn games
- Attend a sporting event
- Practice painting
- Perfect your photography skills at Shawnee Twin Lakes
- Outdoor community event
- Craft show
- Fruit picking at Wind Drift Orchards in Harrah
- Stargazing
- Reading outside
- Bird-watching
- Golf
- Pickleball at Woodard Veterans Park in Shawnee
- Scenic boat rides on the Bricktown Canal
- Yoga
- Fishing at Lake Thunderbird
- Dancing
Before you commit to spending time in the wilderness, check the weather and dress accordingly. This guidance is especially true if you plan on hiking somewhere cell service may not work. Sunny spring days can often turn into pouring rain under the right circumstances, so be prepared.
How Visiting Angels SE-OKC Prioritizes Senior Safety
Visiting Angels of SE-OKC caregivers recognize the need for compassion and care as seniors explore the world around them. Our care staff supports seniors in their unique aging journeys, whether a hike on the nearest trail or the afternoon spent sunning in the backyard. Below are additional resources we offer SE-OKC seniors and their families:
- Reducing the Risk of Falls
- Transportation Resources Keeping Non-Driving Seniors on the Road
- Engaging Activities for Seniors
- GPS Tracking for Seniors With Dementia
- Balance and Strength May Reduce Fall Risk for Seniors
- What Is Adult Day Care and Why In-Home Care May Be a Better Option?
If you’d like to learn more about Visiting Angels SE-OKC senior home care services, contact us for a free consultation. We’re excited to craft a personalized plan that meets your and your aging loved one’s needs.