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Spring is just around the corner and it’s a time when nature begins blooming to life once again, the weather gets warmer and the evenings get longer. These changes offer plenty of opportunity to start enjoying outdoor activities again after the colder winter months, but it can also have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. In this blog, we have explored the effects that fresh air and nature can have on senior mental health and why making time to get out and about this spring is important. 

Boosting Moods

Getting out in the fresh air and enjoying nature in the spring time can be a great way to boost senior moods. After the long winter months, with cold weather and little sun, where elderly people may have found themselves cooped up in their homes, which can lead to loneliness and depression, the warmer weather and longer evenings can be a welcome reprieve. When the sun is shining it can make a big difference, and getting out and about in the warmer and sunnier spring weather can be a great way for seniors to elevate their mood. 

Reducing Stress

Surrounding oneself with nature is also a fantastic way to reduce stress and alleviate anxiety. Green spaces can be a stark contrast to the inside of a house and give elderly individuals the chance to connect with nature, which can have a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and create an overall positive impact on mental health. The nicer spring weather offers the perfect opportunity for seniors to enjoy the outdoors more often, whether it’s gardening, taking a walk or just sitting outside. In cases where elderly individuals struggle with health or mobility problems, family, friends, or professional home carers can provide physical support to help their loved ones get out of the house and enjoy calming green environments and fresh air. 

Improving Sleep

Elderly individuals may find that their sleep patterns have become disrupted as they’ve gotten older. There are health and age related factors that can contribute to seniors struggling with insomnia or broken sleep, and tiredness can have negative effects on mental and physical health. Circadian rhythms, the body’s internal 24-hour clock, can reset and regulate with more exposure to natural light. The longer days of spring and the warmer temperatures, can help elderly individuals enjoy more natural light, which resets their circadian rhythms, helping their bodies return to a more natural sleep pattern and improve sleep quality. 

Enhancing Cognitive Function 

The nicer weather offered by the spring months, opens the door to more activities that elderly individuals can enjoy. Activities like gardening, bird watching, and walking, can help keep the mind active, sharp and focused, which is critical for supporting cognitive function. The range of sounds, smells and sights in nature can also help keep elderly individuals alert, additionally, the calming effect of nature and fresh air increasing oxygen flow, can help with concentration, clarity and reduce stress.   

Promote Social Interaction

The cold winter weather can make it difficult to keep up with social engagements, whether it’s due to ice and snow hindering travel or the general unappealing nature of the cold, wet weather. This can mean during these months that elderly people become more isolated which can negatively impact mental health. Spring time offers more opportunities for seniors to meet up with their friends and enjoy various activities, not only allowing them to get fresh air and surround themselves with nature, they can do it while maintaining important social interactions and reinforcing bonds and relationships. 

How Senior Home Care in South Manchester Can Help 

It’s understandable that some elderly individuals living alone may not have the means or ability to get outside as much as they would like, and this is where a senior home care in South Manchester can come in handy. 

With a home carer, seniors can stay in their own homes, but can receive added support in their day-to-day lives. Carers can help seniors with their personal needs, help maintain routines, and facilitate outings for their clients to get out of the house, whether it’s simply in the garden or further afield. 

Here at Beloved Homecare, we can provide high-quality senior home care in South Manchester, supporting our elderly clients with personal care, dementia care, domestic care, 24-hour care, and end-of-life care. We understand just how important it is for both our clients and their families to reach a high standard of care, which is why we run DBS checks and check references, and ensure that our carers are hardworking, friendly people who are passionate about what they do, to make sure we are building a team that holds the same values we do.