Summer Activities for the Elderly

The Benefits of Being Outside for Seniors

Spending time outside has been known to help older individuals feel less depressed and anxious. Compared with individuals who exercise indoors, those who run, bike, or stroll in nature have a lower risk of mental and emotional health issues according to BMC Public Health.

Providing summer activities for older adults means taking regular activities and relocating them outside where family and friends can be invited to join in. Playing board games and taking your usual book club meeting outside are all simple outdoor activities that really help towards making the most out of the summer weather. 

Spending time with friends and loved ones or meeting new people outside encourages social interaction. Natural settings are tranquil places to experience more spiritual connections with the world around us. Lots of older people suffer from feelings of loneliness, irritation and confusion, so being outside and interacting with others while soaking up some vitamin D can do wonders for someone's mental health.

3 Summer Activities in a Care Home

Gardening

Spending time in the garden can help those living with dementia and older people in general sleep better and lessen the symptoms of sundowning (restlessness, irritability or even confusion that can either begin or worsen as the sun begins to set) by regulating their body clock.

Small planters or flower window boxes are simple to manage but can provide a lot of satisfaction for individuals who don't feel as actively inclined, making gardening a hobby for individuals to participate in as much or as little as their health or cognitive abilities allow. 

Going to the neighbourhood garden centre and selecting plants and flowers to grow on residential care home grounds can also help spark conversations and interests. It's also a beneficial way of maintaining social engagement in the local community.

Getting Out & About

There are so many exciting things to do in and around South Croydon, so you’d be foolish to not take full advantage of all the city has to offer, especially during the summer months. Keeping your mind active as you age is something that's incredibly important, both for your mental and emotional wellbeing.

Be careful, however: the sun in the height of summer has been known to be harsh, especially when it comes to older individuals. Make sure you stay hydrated, keep to well-shaded areas, eat lots of ice cream and wear lots of sun cream to remain as safe as possible. We recommend playing games in Wandle Park, visiting Shirley Windmill and exploring The Museum of Croydon if you’re looking for a good mix of outdoor and indoor activities for residents.

Arts & Crafts

For residents in a care home, getting creative and taking part in arts and crafts classes is a wonderful hobby to take up since it gives individuals a sense of accomplishment, and in turn, increases their self-esteem. As art is all about personal expression, this activity can be carried out by everyone, no matter a person's skills. This is a great dementia-friendly activity and as well for others living in a care home. Staff members will always be available to assist if a resident needs additional help when creating a craft. Crafts are often seasonal, so often an Activity Coordinator will encourage residents to create themed crafts for the summer such as making beach scenes, painting rocks and flower arranging.

All levels of creative ability can paint from still life, therefore painting a garden scene is a pleasant way to enjoy some sunshine while you work. Those who may not be as mobile can still partake in the group activities with the help of a care assistant. For those who are more mobile, gentle exercise is always encouraged as it's important to keep the muscles strong in older age.

Summer Activities at Haling Park

From our perspective, residents at Haling Park Care Home should be able to get the most out of each day throughout their stay. We proactively encourage residents to keep engaging in the activities that bring them joy, whether it's reading a book, watching their very favourite movie, or taking part in an arts and crafts activity, and our on-site facilities allow us to do just that. 

It’s so important to give residents meaningful activities in care homes, so they can live a rich lifestyle each day. There are so many exciting care home activity ideas our residents can take part in, and we’re thrilled to be able to support them in any way we can. 

Our hardworking team goes above and beyond to provide residents with a wide range of activities, giving them all they need to lead full, fun and diverse lives. Each week, our Activity Coordinators organise a variety of engaging, easily accessible activities as part of an exciting Activities Programme. Sing-alongs, baking, quizzes, film days, and sculpting are just a few of the activities that all residents can join in on.

We regularly welcome live entertainment to our home which can be performed outside in our private gardens when the weather permits. We have also recently created a sensory garden that consists of four main areas. The Beach, an area where residents can reminisce about past holidays, a Herb Garden filled with stimulating and therapeutic scents, Bug Corner full of bright exciting colours and textures and a Royal Garden which includes our very own Royal Corgi.

Get in Contact Today

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions concerning our home and the summer activities we do with our residents at Haling Park. Our phone number is 020 8181 8898, and our email address is info@halingparkcare.com. You can also submit any questions through our online form, and a member of our staff will get back to you as soon as they can. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon.