Some Outdoor Activities That Can be Great at Assisted Living

February 11, 2016 by ·

Assisted Living in Pascagoula, AL

Assisted Living in Pascagoula, ALSpending any amount of time at assisted-living usually leads to a higher quality of life, especially for those residents who are actively involved in their community and enjoy spending time with friends, including making new friends. Even though it’s still winter, there are a number of outdoor activities that can be great fun and even provide some valuable exercise for those seniors who need it.

Exercise is essential.

Exercise is incredibly important for people of all ages, including seniors, whether they are in their 70s, 80s, or 90s. Because of physical limitations, exercise for seniors can involve walking at a slightly brisker pace than they usually do. As long as it helps to elevate their heart rate, as long as their doctor tells them they are healthy enough for exercise, it can be extremely beneficial.

Getting outside doesn’t have to be an activity involving exercise, though. Here are a few outdoor activities that can be great for those individuals living in an assisted community.

Walking with friends.

Going outside on the grounds, there are usually a number of walking trails. Heading outside during nice weather with a number of friends from the assisted living community can be a great way to enjoy the sun, warmth, and companionship of others.

Planting a garden.

Not every assisted living facility will provide the space for community gardens, and if the assisted living community where your elderly loved one lives doesn’t, there may very well be community gardens not too far away.

Planting a garden in the spring and helping it grow during the summer is a great way for many seniors to get exercise. It can also provide the extra benefit of having some great fruits and even vegetables to savor with meals they make or to hand to friends and family.

Feeding the birds.

Creating birdhouses, feeding the birds, and just enjoying wildlife can be fun for a number of reasons. Challenging oneself to label and identify as many birds as possible is a common pastime activity for many people of all ages. For seniors who may be limited on the things they can do, physically, this can be an exciting activity.

Certain sports.

Shuffleboard, bocce, and other low stress sports can be a lot of fun as well. Some communities provide these courts for their residents to use.
Getting outside is incredibly beneficial for many reasons, including exposure to sun, which is one of the best ways for the body to synthesize vitamin D, essential for strong bones and healthy teeth, regardless of one’s age.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Pascagoula, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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