Fun Summer Activities with Your Senior

The days of fun in the sun have finally arrived!  Now is the time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather.  Given the continued social distancing recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control due to COVID-19, socially distant outdoor fun in the sun is just what the doctor ordered. If it is too warm outside, there are also indoor activities to complete during these extended days of sunshine.  If you haven’t already, try some of the following summer activities.

Get Your Steps In

Bask in the sunshine during an outdoor walk. When walking around the neighborhood, be wary of curbs and uneven surfaces. Bring your rolling walker for stability if needed, and don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a water bottle. Wear bright colors for easy visibility, along with proper footwear. Walk at a comfortable pace, but one that requires mild to moderate effort so you can reap all the health benefits of the walk. What a great way to wave to the neighbors!

Flex Your Green Thumb

What is better than fresh tomatoes, cucumbers or basil picked from the backyard garden? However, sometimes age-related physical changes can pose challenges for you when tending the garden. The following are ideas that might make gardening more enjoyable:

• If it hurts to weight bear on your hands and knees, try a combination kneeler with bench as an option for relief when gardening. When in the kneeling position, handrails are accessible on each side for a more comfortable return to standing. If you primarily want to sit, try a more straightforward garden seat.
• Waist-high garden beds are more accessible for you to reach while standing, seated, or in a wheelchair. Invest in a raised garden bed.  Your back will thank you!
• Hand arthritis can make it difficult and painful to grasp standard garden tools. Check out these easy-to-grip garden tools to see if they might help make gardening easier.
• Reduce your fall risk when gardening by using a standing weed puller, or if you prefer some moving parts, consider the stand-up weeder with a weed ejection system to simplify the process.  
• Explore using coiled hoses instead of the traditional garden hose. Coiled hoses are more lightweight and stretch farther.

Plan a Picnic

A picnic in the park ought to meet the criteria for social distancing guidelines. Dust off your picnic basket and fill it with your favorite potato salad, fruit and sandwiches.  A lightweight, folding wagon could help transport all of these goodies. Don’t forget a blanket, an outdoor folding chair, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to ensure the most comfortable picnic possible.

Practice Your 7^th Inning Stretch

Now that baseball is back in the swing, take advantage of the opportunity to cheer on your grandchildren at the ballpark. They love having fans in the stands. Before attending sporting events, you may need to make specific preparations to ensure your comfort and safety. Here are a few considerations:

• Check the weather forecast and pack sunscreen, mosquito spray, hat, umbrella, blanket and jacket as needed.
• Use a motorized scooter/wheelchair to commute safely to the field/court.
• Consider using a rolling walker with bigger wheels so that navigating over curbs, grass, and uneven surfaces is safest.
• Pack a few snacks and drinks in case there are no concession stands.

Tackle That Photo Organizing Project

Too hot outside? No matter the weather, sorting, organizing and labeling the family photos is time well spent. There is no better time than the present to document family history from decades past for the next generation to come. Family photo organization takes you on a walk down memory lane. If possible, get the family together to participate so they can enjoy your stories of times past. Label the back of the photos and place them into acid-free photo storage pages to protect them from yellowing or decay.  Perhaps the family technology wizard can scan them into the computer for preservation electronically as well.

If you would like somebody to accompany you during any of these activities, Visiting Angels of Manassas can help. Visiting Angels is the leading senior home care company in Manassas, VA, and surrounding areas.  Our compassionate in-home caregivers are available to take that walk with you, help you tend the garden, escort you to a grandchild’s ball game, and help with a home project. Call us today at 703-783-2832 or contact us here to learn more.