There is no better time to get outside than when the sun is shining and the air is warm. Did you know that getting outside has multiple health benefits for your senior? As caregivers, we often think about sending the children outside to play in the fresh air, but it’s also a great habit for your elderly loved one to create as well.
Exposure to sunshine and fresh air has multiple benefits for our bodies and your elderly loved one can benefit greatly by getting outside regularly and safely. Because while the outdoors has some amazing health benefits that shouldn’t be ignored, keeping your loved one safe from overheating or sunburn is also important. So, before he heads outside to reap those amazing benefits, make sure his companion care at home provider puts sunscreen on him (and maybe a hat), then they can plan some time outside.
Let’s look at the health benefits of spending some time outside every day.
Reduced Stress and Depression
The very air that the plants and trees create outside is full of chemicals that lift a person’s mood. Sometimes it’s very noticeable from the smells of flowers or grass, but it’s always there, just outside waiting for your loved one to enjoy. For this benefit, your loved one needs to get out of the city (or at least to a park) and surround himself with plenty of plant life.
He can ask his companion care at home provider to line up transportation if it’s not within walking distance.
Stronger Immune System
The sun provides the best way for a person’s body to absorb Vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for a strong immune system. When a body has enough Vitamin D, it can reduce inflammation and some autoimmune diseases. Just don’t overdo the time in direct sunlight and risk a sunburn.
Improved Respiratory System
Clearing the lungs and taking in nice, deep breaths helps the lungs stay strong and resilient.
Better Sleep
While a nap in a hammock is nice, getting out in the sun and fresh air actually helps a person sleep better at night when it’s important to have a long stretch of quality sleep. Getting out from under indoor lighting and into the sunshine helps regulate the melatonin levels and the circadian rhythms of the body, helping it know that nighttime is for sleeping and daytime is for wakefulness.
Increased Energy
If your loved one is tired, instead of taking a nap, he might want to ask his companion care at home provider to go for a walk out in the sunshine. Getting out into the fresh air and exercising will provide more energy than a nap does when a person is feeling tired during the day.
The next time you send the kids out to play, send your elderly loved one out with them to enjoy the great outdoors and reap the health benefits that fresh air and sunshine give to everyone.