Benefits of a Senior Sitting Outside

By Jessica Ott | March 25, 2024 |

When caring for your senior, you will want to ensure they’re getting vitamins and minerals, and one of the best ways to do that is by getting them to sit outside. If your senior is mobile, they may benefit from walking around their neighborhood in the sun. But no matter what, just getting out of the house and being in the sun will benefit their mental and physical health. As spring approaches, it’s time for home care assistance providers to add outside time into a senior’s routine.

Here are some benefits of simply sitting out on a senior’s deck or porch every day.

It Increases Vitamin D

Home Care Assistance Gettysburg PA – Benefits of a Senior Sitting Outside

You may know that your body needs vitamin D and if a senior doesn’t have enough, they may experience fatigue, bone loss, muscle weakness, and an increased risk of infection. These are all things that your senior wants to avoid as they get older, so getting this vitamin is crucial to a healthy life. However, remember that your body only takes what it needs and can’t use any “extra.” This vitamin can make you stronger and is one of the best benefits of sitting outside in the sun.

Sun Improves Mental Well-Being

All seniors should focus on mental health; the easiest way to do that is to get them to sit outside. Exposure to sunlight increases the body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that helps to regulate mood, sleep, and appetite. In addition, just being outside can reduce feelings of isolation. They may be able to watch people from their porches, and even watching nature, like birds and bugs, can help a senior keep from being lonely. This is also something that home care assistance can accompany a senior with.

Improves the Immune System

If you have been looking for the ultimate trick to boost your loved one’s immune system, look no further. This is the best way to give them a fighting chance regarding the flu or cold. Sitting outside for a few minutes daily can increase a senior’s white blood cell count, and that boost can last for a few days. When a senior can keep mentally and physically healthy, it will also help their immune system in unimaginable ways.

It Reduces Mental Fatigue

Many seniors feel fatigued during their elderly years, this is normal, but too much fatigue can be deadly for a senior to deal with. Sitting outside or just looking out a window can help them feel inspired and battle the fatigue they feel, especially mental fatigue.

It Helps Recovery Time

Spending time outside may help bones become stronger and the body recovers quicker. It may have to do with the amount of vitamins your loved one gets from being outside. They can take the time to rest in the sun, which may mean they feel less pain in the future and can speed up recovery time. Keep in mind that sitting outside doesn’t mean they should neglect the doctor’s orders when it comes to their recovery after surgery or an illness.

**If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance Services in Gettysburg PA, please get in touch with us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions. In-Home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.**

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Jessica Ott

Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC

Jessica Ott is the Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC.

A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC is dedicated to providing our clients with a better quality of life through our support services while maintaining their independence in the comfort of their own home.

As a Home Care Agency licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we can provide families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in good hands.

We will work with you to prepare a care plan that incorporates your needs, your wishes, and your preferred schedule. Each client is matched with a caregiver who can best meet their individual needs, whether they reside in a house, apartment, condominium, assisted living, or nursing community.