Summertime is the perfect time of year, for people of all ages, to get outside and enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer. If your elderly loved one lives in a nursing home facility, he or she may yearn for the opportunity to get out and partake in activities that he or she used to do on warm summer days.

While some outdoor activities may need to be modified, there’s no reason that an elderly nursing home resident can’t participate and take pleasure in some of summer’s most quintessential activities. Here are some outdoor activities that can be enjoyed by elderly nursing home residents and some precautions that should be taken to ensure their safety:

Going for a Walk

For some, there’s nothing more pleasurable than taking a walk when the weather is warm, the landscape is in full bloom, and the sun is shining. Not only is it nice to get out to stretch your legs and get some fresh air after a long and chilly winter, but it’s an easy way to get a much needed dose of Vitamin D. Even if your elderly loved one is able to walk independently (with or without the use of a walker), he or she should be accompanied by a nursing home staff member, volunteer, family member or friend. Walking with someone else is not only a great opportunity to socialize, but it can also prevent a dangerous fall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among elderly adults. A fall may occur for any number of reasons from loss of balance, tripping on an uneven surface, a side effect of a medication, or due to negligence from a nursing home staff member. According to Mani, Ellis, & Layne, PLLC, nursing home staff are responsible for keeping your elderly loved one safe and if your elderly loved one is injured in their care, the nursing home may be held accountable for their actions.

Gardening

Your elderly loved one may have fond memories of helping out on the family farm or tending to their flower or vegetable garden in the summertime. If the nursing home facility has a garden on the property, your elderly loved one may have the opportunity to participate in simple maintenance such as watering, weeding, and harvesting. Although gardening is a relatively safe activity, an elderly individual may be at risk of infection from the soil, overexertion when using gardening tools, tripping and falling over uneven landscape or a garden hose, and reactions to insect bites.

Nursing home staff should take proper safety precautions by providing gardening gloves, insect repellent, monitor the area for any tripping hazards, and preventing elderly residents from doing heaving lifting or motions that may cause imbalance.

Other Outdoor Activities & Safety Precautions

Aside from taking a walk and gardening, there are various outdoor summer activities that your elderly loved one may like to participate in from watching a parade, attending a picnic, viewing a fireworks display, or even shopping at an outdoor market. Nursing home staff should choose suitable activities based on your loved one’s abilities and special needs. Staff should also make sure that your elderly loved one, for his or her safety, is wearing appropriate footwear, is adequately hydrated, is wearing sunscreen and other gear for sun protection (such as sunglasses, a hat, and light long sleeved shirts), and is spending time outdoors during a safe time of day (not too hot or no threat of inclement weather).