Spring is a time of renewal. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, daylight hours are longer and everyone seems more chipper. Late actor Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”
Spring feels even more liberating this year after a year spent indoors, isolating from one another, especially at retirement homes. As the weather lifts spirits, so, too, is the COVID vaccine, allowing people to enjoy spending quality time together again, while observing eased safety precautions.
At Country Meadows, and many senior communities, life is blooming again! Residents living in retirement homes are offered numerous opportunities to enjoy life outdoors. While the options are practically endless, here are five favorite activities to enjoy spring at retirement homes.
Gardening
For many people, digging in the dirt is the best form of relaxation to bury worries. It strengthens a connection with nature and rewards the gardener with beautiful blossoms and nutritious food.
As a family-owned and led company, Country Meadows campuses provide numerous spaces for residents of our retirement homes to keep their green thumbs busy. Our senior communities boast raised garden beds to plant vegetables and flowers as well as pots for container gardening. At some locations, residents check in with landscaping co-workers to plant their own flowering bushes, bulbs and seasonal favorite plants in campus flower beds.
Walking
Whether you live in a retirement home or your own home, outdoor walks are a great way to stay in or get in shape while enjoying nature. There are many benefits to enjoying a daily walk such as:
- Helping to achieve and/or maintain a healthy body weight
- Keeping muscles in shape
- Boosting mood and increasing happiness.
- Boosting circulation and decreasing risk of cardiovascular problems.
In fact, experts have said that walking is most likely the best exercise for seniors to reduce their risk of chronic conditions and improve overall health. Click here for more health benefits of walking for seniors as well as ideas to make walks more enjoyable.
Outdoor Games
Retirement homes offer outdoor amenities for residents to enjoy favorite pastimes. At Country Meadows, campuses boast various on-campus outdoor amenities such as horseshoe pits, walking trails, pet enclosures and outings to fun destinations. However, bocce ball seems to be the resident favorite.
Several Country Meadows locations have constructed regulation bocce ball courts on site. In the Lehigh Valley, Country Meadows created a Senior Bocce Ball League in which resident teams challenge teams from other retirement homes to play games on each other’s campuses. At the Forks in Easton campus, one beloved late resident earned the nickname “Joey Bocce Ball” from his fellow residents. He started playing bocce ball 50 years ago and coached the campus team to League championships more than once. In this video, he teaches how to play the game. Click here to watch.
Exercise Classes in Nature
When warmer weather begins to break, Country Meadows’ Fitness Directors frequently take classes outside so residents get the benefits from the exercise as well as fresh air. Retirement home residents are enjoying balance classes under blue skies, yoga under the stars and aerobic-style classes on beautiful green lawns.
Sometimes outdoor fitness opportunities involve travel to local spots for classes with community members. A resident favorite involved a trip to a farm for residents to enjoy an exercise craze sweeping America—goat yoga. Click here to read about their experience and watch a relaxing video.
Picnics and Social Opportunities
One of the best things about warmer weather is gathering with friends outside on the patio or around a fire pit. Retirement home residents frequently enjoy gathering for picnics, hot dog roasts, making s’mores or simply enjoying a cocktail.
Country Meadows has nine locations in Pennsylvania and one campus location in Frederick, Maryland. Often referred to as one of the best independent living communities in the area, we offer a wide range of services to serve a variety of resident needs. The services within our independent living communities include restorative care, rehabilitation, personal care and assisted living, memory support and independent living. If you or a loved one are beginning the retirement planning journey and would like more information about our independent living communities, please contact us today.
Country Meadows
