The arrival of summer brings fun events and activities that everybody looks forward to at Cornerstone communities. As the weather warms up, residents spend more time outside, enjoying nature and each other’s company. Whether it’s in Colorado, Minnesota, or any other Cornerstone states, we ensure that summer is a season of joy and fun for our residents.

How Cornerstone Makes the Most of Summer

One activity that residents enjoy that can be implemented for other older adults is a community garden. In many of our communities, residents can help nurture and care for the garden, and everybody can reap the benefits later on. Activities such as gardening give seniors an outdoor activity that will stimulate their mind and keep them physically active.

Other ways that we enjoy summer in senior living include social events like barbeques and concerts. We love to spend our days outdoors while also encouraging friendships among our residents by holding events that focus on good food or shared interests. Concerts are a popular choice at our communities because our residents love to enjoy the music of talented musicians in the surrounding community or even a talented fellow resident.

Other activities that Cornerstone residents enjoy during the summer months are walks around the surrounding town, family picnics, and outdoor exercise classes. Any excuse to enjoy the outdoors is a good one for our residents.

Benefits of Senior Living in the Summer

Senior living brings many benefits for older adults, especially during the summer. With planned activities and the support of caring staff and volunteers, seniors can enjoy the outdoors while ensuring that everyone is safe and healthy.

When an older adult lives alone, it can become difficult to find activities to participate in, especially if they cannot transport themselves. Senior living communities support social engagement and purpose by providing fun activities to enjoy and making transportation available for events outside of the community.

Staying Safe

The National Institute on Aging provides an insightful list of hot weather safety tips for older adults. While summer can be an exciting season of outdoor activities, hot weather does call for precaution even as a resident of senior living in the summer.

Heat-Related Illnesses

• Heat Exhaustion: This is caused by being overheated or spending too much time in the sun. It is the body warning itself that it cannot maintain a cool temperature. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are dizziness, weakness, nausea and clamminess. The risk of heat exhaustion is that it can progress into heat stroke.

• Heat Stroke: This can be the result of heat exhaustion and is a medical emergency. If a person is fainting, confused, has a strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse, they could be experiencing heat stroke.

• Heat Syncope: When someone is active outdoors during hot weather, they may experience sudden dizziness. Adults who take certain heart medications or who are not acclimated to hot weather, have a higher chance of experiencing heat syncope.

Safety Tips for Seniors

If older adults are residents of a senior living community, qualified staff and volunteers are available to look out for their health. However, it is valuable to be aware of some ways that they can enjoy the summer while also staying safe:

• Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, especially if you are spending time in the heat.

• Dress appropriately for the weather. Wear clothing that is light-colored, lightweight, and loose-fitting. Certain fabrics may also be cooler than others, such as cotton.

• Spend time outdoors during the cooler hours of the day. By spending time outside in the early morning and evening, you can enjoy nature without extreme heat.

• Take advantage of sunscreen and protective clothing to minimize your skin’s exposure to the sun and avoid sunburn.

• Check with your doctor. Make sure that none of your medication will make you more likely to become overheated or sunburned and take the necessary precautions.

Enjoy the Summer with Cornerstone

If you are interested in making the move to senior living or think it would be a good fit for your loved one, check out our communities. We are creating healthy communities that will support your loved ones and help them experience the joy of senior living in the summer.