The gorgeous summertime, combined with fun and engaging summer activities for seniors, is the ideal season for older adults to establish some great exercise routines! The CDC advises elderly folks aged 65 and older to engage in about 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day for 5 days a week, and that vitamin D from sunlight can decrease senior depression and anxiety symptoms. So pack your sunblock and head outside—here are eight great senior-friendly summer activities you can try that are easy to do, promote camaraderie, and help you stay healthy!
Community Gardening
Enjoy some regular gardening in your neighborhood or retirement community’s communal garden this summer! Gardening involves mild exercises such as digging, pruning, and trimming plants. The fact that gardening disguises exercise as leisure makes it one of the greatest senior-friendly summer pastimes. You can also socialize with many others while tending to flowers, or growing vegetable and herb gardening plots together.
Gentle Swimming and Water Aerobics
Water-based senior summer activities lower the likelihood of getting injured as water reduces the impact on the joints. In a communal pool, you can have a light swim or participate in a gentle aqua aerobics session. Older adults with arthritic or painful joints can benefit greatly from these summer water activities.
Proper-Paced Hiking
Another senior-friendly, excellent outdoor adventure for the summer is moderate-paced hiking. Visit a nearby nature reserve or walking track with your family or senior living friends. Alternate the location and landscape each time for more fun! And if you find a generally flat, paved path, your friends with wheelchairs can also join.
Potluck Lunches or Barbecue Cookouts with Families
Organize a big potluck lunch or barbecue cookout with friends and families, and picnic the beautiful summer day away! You can host it at your lush retirement community garden or nearby park, and each family can bring a hearty home-cooked dish to share.
Gelato and Ice Cream Parties
Without a good ol’ gelato and ice cream party, summertime just wouldn’t be complete! Grab a few friends and set up a make-your-own-cone station with a couple of low-fat flavor varieties. Prepare some low-sugar toppings as well so you can satisfy your sweet cravings once in a while.
Card or Board Game Nights
Take a break from the warm summer sun and host a games night at home or one of your senior living recreational rooms. Invite your friends and neighbors to bring a couple of their best-loved card or board games. Prepare some food and beverages for everyone to fully enjoy this exciting yet relaxing indoor summertime activity.
Rainy Day Trivia Competitions
A trivia competition on rainy summer days can encourage some exhilarating friendly rivalry and great socialization opportunities. You can play individually or in groups, design a hall-of-fame board for the winners and give them little prizes to make it more of a significant occasion. Sometimes, senior living campuses even organize intercommunity trivia competitions between them!
Weekly Book Clubs
You can join or form a reading club with your friends as one of your indoor summer activities, as reading and rainy days go perfectly together like bread and butter! Simply choose the short novels or books to be discussed and meet with your reading group once a week for some peaceful downtime.
