For both mental and physical health, it’s important to get out into the fresh air and get a little sunshine each day. But for many elderly people, finding the energy and motivation to get outside and experience these things can be a challenge. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help them find more time and desire to get outside each day, even if it’s just for a short period of time.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to encourage your elderly loved one to get more fresh air each day.
Make The Outdoors More Accessible And Comfortable
Depending on where your elderly loved one lives, it might be hard for them to actually get outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. If this is the case, you can help them to find ways to make the outdoors more accessible and comfortable.
If your elderly loved one lives in an assisted living facility, you might want to ask their caregivers if they can be helped outside for a period of time. For loved ones who still live in their own home or are being taken care of by friends or family members, you could see how you can get your loved one to spend more time in transitional spaces, like near open windows or on an outdoor patio. Make these areas comfortable and appealing to your loved one by having seating options they love and activities they’ll find enjoyment in.
Help Them Start A Garden
For elderly loved ones that still have a decent amount of mobility, starting a garden can be a great way to encourage them to spend more time outside without just feeling like they’re sitting or walking around.
Not only can having a small garden help your elderly loved one to get outside more, but it can also help them have more sense of purpose in their life, as they will have something to take care of. And if you’re at all worried about food scarcity, having a garden can be a great way to combat this as well.
Take Arts And Crafts Outside
If there’s something that your elderly loved one loves to do, like art and crafts or other small projects, consider how you can have them work on these things in an outdoor environment rather than an indoor environment. Even if this doesn’t happen every time, if they can safely and comfortably take these projects outside occasionally, this can be a great way to get more fresh air on a regular basis.
If you have elderly loved ones that you’re worried aren’t getting enough fresh air and sunshine, consider using the tips mentioned above to help them make these kinds of healthy changes.