Your lifestyle changes as you grow older and there are some activities that you need to cut back on or give up entirely. Spending time outdoors, enjoying nature, and being physically active should never be one of those.
These activities are beneficial for both your health and the overall well-being of the elderly. It is, however, important that you choose senior outdoor activities carefully, so that they are not too strenuous and that they are fun and beneficial.
There’s a great range of things you can do outdoors and they include group activities and some sports as well. Many seniors feel that the community they form during retirement is one of the most important parts of their lives, often equal to their family itself. Exercising, playing sports, and enjoying nature together is a great way to strengthen this community.
Check our list:
1. Picnics
Picnics are a great activity for seniors to enjoy with their family and friends. They don’t require that much investing, other than time spent on packing and preparing the food, and those are half the fun. It’s also an activity you could turn into a tradition, by including a whole group of friends and having a different person prepare the meal each time you get together.
It’s usually best not to concern yourself too much with the location of the picnic itself. It is an important part of it, but for the most part, all you need is a piece of nature (even the park will do nicely), and the mere change of scenery will make the experience special. During the summer days, it’s best to find a place near the water, where it is both less hot and more scenic.
2. Fishing
Fishing doesn’t take a lot of physical effort and the elderly could enjoy it for a long time even when their health isn’t what it once was. It’s also a great activity to connect with the younger generation. Your grandchildren will never forget the time they spend fishing with you and the bonding is always best done by overdoing things together.
Fishing is also a perfect blend between enjoying nature and the serene surroundings and is an activity that requires focus and actual knowledge of what you’re trying to accomplish. It can be something you do once in a while with a simple rod and bait, or it can be a hobby that takes up a lot of your time (and sometimes your budget as well).
3. Gardening
Gardening is a perfect outdoor activity for the elderly. It’s related to the warm weather meaning that seniors could even take it up in the wintertime if the conditions are favorable and there’s little to do. It also provides a sense of purpose and planning since gardening is cyclical and always gives you something to work towards.
It’s also one of those activities that are both physically challenging and creative in their nature. A garden can be a fun side project to help you cut your grocery costs or it can be a true work of art. There’s also plenty of material to learn from and a whole community to join and be a part of once you get into it.
4. Hit the farmers’ markets
There are two ways to enjoy this activity. If you have a small home garden you could use the farmers’ market as a source of income and sell some of your produce. A lot of seniors also enjoy the camaraderie of the process and the communities that come about within these markets.
Alternatively, you don’t need to sell anything to enjoy the farmers’ market. Just making it a weekly trip can be a great way to spend the day and take an active interest in your diet and health, while also getting to know the local community.
Farmers’ markets also play a big role in sustainable food supply and are an eco-friendly alternative to large food distribution companies and that’s a cause the elderly should get behind because they know what it means to care for the generations to come.
5. Swimming
The elderly often hesitate to take up swimming as a hobby, but it’s a mistake to do so. It’s one of the healthiest sports and ways to exercise. Most seniors love it since it allows you to clear your mind and relax while exercising your whole body.
There are courses that are specifically made for the elderly and that will help you enjoy swimming in a responsible way and with regards to the limitations that your health may impose on you. It’s also something you can do with a group of friends, especially so if you’re a little bit competitive.
If you’re in good health and feel confident, it’s a great activity for you to share with your family, and your grandkids would thoroughly enjoy it as well.
6. Playing sports
There are limits as to what kind of sport you can play when you progress in age, but if you’re responsible and if you pace yourself, you can still enjoy a lot of sports outdoors and get the health benefits of playing them as well. There are teams specifically made for the elderly which further increase the feeling of being a part of a community, and that makes engaging in such activities even more rewarding.
Depending on your health you may want to consider avoiding contact sports. It’s also useful to consult your doctor before joining a team or practicing in an intensive regime.
Don’t hesitate to try the sports you were never keen on. It’s never too late to take up tennis or any other sport that may be less physically challenging and you’ll soon get a hang of it.
7. Sporting events
There are also ways to enjoy sports without directly taking part in them. Seniors that used to play a sport usually transition into being fans over time, when they can’t play anymore. It’s also one of the things you could do with your grandchildren and is a great way to make memories.
Local teams are also more than just an attraction. They are part of a community and a lot of fans get really emotionally attached to them. Heading out to a game often becomes a weekly ritual and one that you can make a day out of that goes beyond the sport itself.
There’s nothing wrong with starting this practice in your later years and finding the team you root for as an elderly person as well.
8. Reading
Reading doesn’t seem like it’s an outdoor activity, but there’s no reason for it not to be, especially when it’s warm and dry outside. It’s important to remain mentally active and intellectually curious in your old age and reading is a good way to do it. There are plenty of reading clubs to help you out with starting on this hobby, and you can also make new friends there while you are at it.
It’s therefore an activity you can continue indoors throughout the year even when the weather conditions worsen. Also, whenever the weather allows it, all you need is a park to restart your outdoor hobby, and a bench or a blanket will do you just fine.
Have in mind that reading is something that should be done for pleasure as well. Not everything you read needs to be challenging or stimulating. Sometimes, just being fun is enough.
9. Hiking
Sometimes the simplest way to enjoy nature is to simply spend time in it. Hiking is sometimes just that, taking your time and strolling through some beautiful surroundings. A good thing about it, especially from the point of view of an elderly person, is that you can go as far and as fast as you want and you can also take your time if your abilities don’t allow you to exercise too hard.
At the same time, this is something you can do with your friends and use your hikes to catch up and connect better than you would in your everyday environment.
Hiking requires minimal investment. You won’t need more than a good pair of shoes and clothes to keep you dry and comfortable.
10. Photography
Photography is a great activity for the elderly because it motivates them to spend time outside and go chasing that perfect photo. It’s also an intellectual and artistic activity that you can learn about and get better at over time.
There are countless ways you can take this hobby. It can be nothing more than a personal collection of photos, you could sell them online or just display them for others to see both digitally and in person. It’s important for seniors to keep finding ways to express themselves over time.
This is a hobby that requires investment, but the equipment is half the fun of becoming a photographer and it will help you pass the time when you’re not out there snapping pictures.
11. Community events
There are always community events organized by the local associations, governmental or otherwise. Some are common such as Halloween or the 4th of July, others are less known and more local in nature and theme. These events don’t come about on their own, there are always dedicated teams that put them together.
The elderly shouldn’t hesitate to take part in such events and their planning. For the most part, those are fun and a great way to be an active member of the community as well as a helpful one. Obviously, there are countless ways to be involved and to help, depending on your age and interest.
There are resources in community organizations as well as online to help you find the best way to apply yourself.
12. Bird watching
Bird watching is one of those activities that no one usually thinks about or plans to take on. A hobby is a reason to get you out of the house for the most part, as is the case with hiking or taking photos. Sometimes you’ll spend hours just trying to spot a rare bird and complete your collection.
As is the case with most hobbies, learning about it and becoming a part of the community of birdwatchers is just as fun and engaging as the activity itself. It also allows you to pace yourself and to do it only when you’re able to and that suits the elderly well.
The biggest investment needed to get on board with this hobby is in learning about all the different species of birds in the first place, which itself is a fun thing to do.
13. Fruit picking
Continuing with the theme of light exercise that will keep you outside, fruit picking is another great way to go. Fruit picking is something that you can do up to your old age if you’re in good health. The physical activity itself is rather simple but it’s still enough for it to be your daily exercise.
Obviously, this isn’t an activity that everyone can take part in because you’ll need an actual orchard to do it. If you have one nearby you can make a day out of it and enjoy the trip along with the exercise. This is also more fun when done in groups and is a lot safer as well if you find the activity to be too tasking.
14. Golfing
Golfing is a perfect sport for seniors because it’s actually a light exercise and it’s really competitive, meaning that it’s fun to do in groups. It can be done by amateurs as much as by those who golf for years or even decades. Depending on the size of the court and your overall health, you can either walk or you can use the services of golf carts and caddies to help you out.
This can even be turned into somewhat of a career because there are plenty of amateur leagues you can join and play in if you’re able to qualify.
Taking and giving lessons in golfing is also something you could do, once again depending on how good and well-practiced you are.
15. Jogging
Jogging is probably the simplest exercise you can do and is also one of the most effective. Making a habit out of the running is one of the best things you can do for your health in the long term. It’s also something you can do both alone and in groups and something you can scale up or down over time depending on how you feel.
It’s best to consult a doctor before you take up jogging and simply explain your plans to them and see what they propose in return. That way you’ll be safe and enjoy the hobby in a safe capacity. At the same time, you should let the doctor know if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort due to or during jogging.
16. Sightseeing
It’s often overlooked how many interesting sights and places of interest your surroundings have to offer. These are mostly more noticed by tourists than the locals. It’s a mistake and one that you can rectify when you’re older and when you have more time and money to spend.
It’s best to start with sightseeing in your own local surroundings, but obviously, you shouldn’t stop there. There are tours that are specifically made for the group of elders and if those are available to you, you should take advantage of them, since that way you can enjoy the sights in a company and at a pace that’s comfortable to you. There’s no rule that states you need to do it that way, however, and you could also do it alone or with your family.
17. Outdoor shows
Outdoor shows are also a great way to spend time outside and one where you can bring your family and friends as well. Art shows, theaters, and concerts that take place outside are always a different kind of affair since they seem to be like one big backyard gathering of the community.
The shows can range in theme and art form and you shouldn’t box yourself in the themes and the forms that you’re familiar with. Feel free to explore and go watch something outside your comfort zone.
It’s never too late for you to learn about new art and to start appreciating it anew. The key to doing so is to keep an open mind.
18. Dining al fresco
Fine dining is a treat on its own, but when the weather is right you’ll get a chance to dine al fresco as soon as the restaurants open their gardens up and allow for such an option. Most restaurants that have the ability to do so do it, since it’s a great experience and it allows them to seat more guests, so you’ll have no shortage of places to go.
What goes for fine art also goes for fine cuisine. You probably have your ways and are at least somewhat set in them. This is especially so for the seniors who aren’t always prone to exploring new food. However, if you take a leap of faith a few times, you’ll soon find new restaurants to frequent where you can dine both outdoors and inside.
19. Walking pets
Taking care of pets isn’t an only outdoor activity, but also the best way of spending time with your best furry friend. It’s one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time not only as a senior but in general. However, for the elderly in particular having a dog companion could be of great help for both physical and mental health.
Having an animal to take care of and to care about is especially helpful to seniors who are trying to adjust to a new environment or a change that has come about in their lives. That’s both because of the obligations that come out of these bonds and because of the close bonds you form with the animals themselves.
20. BBQing
BBQing is one of those neighborhood activities that never go out of style. It’s a chance for family and friends to come together and the BBQs often become a tradition of sorts. If you’re new in your community and if you have recently moved as is often the case with retirees, BBQs are a good way to meet new friends and find yourself a group to spend time with.
It’s also a chance to spend time in your yard and to occupy yourself with some light form of work that’s always needed for cooking. In the long run, it’s these kinds of activities that will keep you healthy and of a sharp mind. BBQ is also easy to make and there are countless local varieties.
21. Spending time with your grandchildren
In the end, there’s no activity more rewarding than spending time with your grandchildren. It’s a feeling that will stay with both the grandparents and the kids for years and that is unlike any other. It’s also of great help to young parents because any help with the kids that they can get is important for them to maintain a healthy relationship and lifestyle.
Taking care of a grandchild is also physically difficult and it can often require more effort than a hike or exercising. This too is a good way to take of yourself in terms of physical health without it feeling like a choir. You should set boundaries here as well based on your age and abilities and be strict about them when it comes to making arrangements with your kids.
Conclusion
These activities can reduce hospice care and elderly assisted living services for the last days of life. There are plenty of senior outdoor activities that are good for the health and well-being of the elderly. Also, by the virtue of taking part in these activities the elderly lead richer and more fulfilled lives. They are also a way for them to connect with their community and establish new friendships, which can be difficult when you’re older.
There’s a wide range of things to do and you can choose based on your interest, your health, and overall abilities. Don’t shy away from choosing the hobbies and activities that are challenging and that requires work, but make sure to put your health first and foremost. Also, it’s a good idea to try something you haven’t thought suitable for you before – the effects may surprise you and you may end up finding new a new passion that could see you through your golden years.