Now more than ever, people are really taking advantage of the outdoors. With most restaurants and businesses closed for the better part of last year and into now, it’s made people seek the safety of the outside, whether it’s for small gatherings or simply hiking. Staying active and mentally fit during these troubling times is important, especially for seniors either living by themselves or in care facilities, and going outdoors has become the best go-to available. Crescent Lake House knows this better than anyone, as we sit on a great wide expanse of land and take pride in our property. 

 

Getting In Tune With Nature

It’s no wonder that being outdoors has wonderful physical and mental capabilities, especially being more in woodsy or deeper, natural areas. There is an actual term for this, called “Awe Walks”, where one can walk around in nature to fully take in the beauty and focus on something that is far beyond the self. Dacher Keltner, Ph. D. of the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a study in which seniors took an “awe walk” within nature and they reported more positive emotions and lowered stress levels. “Awe is a positive emotion triggered by awareness of something vastly larger than the self and not immediately understandable. Experiencing awe can contribute to a host of benefits including an expanded sense of time and enhanced feelings of generosity, well-being and humility.” 

 

Getting Active

As well as having a positive experience on your psyche, being outdoors obviously makes an impact on your physical wellbeing as well. Getting a safe amount of sunlight per day helps kick in the body’s production of Vitamin D, which is crucial for optimal health, as this helps support a strong immune system and supports bone health. With Covid-19 hitting communities hard, it can be tricky getting out and about while trying to socially distance and reach a store that’s still open. This is especially true for seniors, who may have even more limited resources as it can be difficult to socially distance when living in a communal building. Taking that into consideration, it’s even harder to get outside if you are depending on another for either assistance in walking or reaching an adequate outdoor area, such as a park. 

 

Even though modern advancements like social media and video chat have been great to improve connections with loved ones who may live far away, it’s not always the best answer to feelings of loneliness. Many seniors still experience a learning curve to many of these services, making it difficult to even begin. Others who are tech savvy may appreciate the extra connectedness it offers, but it’s still not the same as one-on-one and in person contact though, potentially leaving seniors to experience depression and loneliness. Combine that with not getting outdoors as often as they should, and it can create added stress. Being able to spend the necessary time outdoors in order to lift those spirits may just be what seniors need, even if it’s just to their backyard. It is found that spending time in or living near to green spaces is associated with vast and significant health benefits, including reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death and increased sleep duration.

 

Experiencing More

Here at Crescent Lake House, we know how important the outdoors is for seniors. Our 26-resident capacity building is set on 12 acres of beautiful natural paradise, it’s no wonder that our residents feel the warmth and love of home. We provide loving, supportive and individual care to each and every one of our residents. With our land also including chickens, horses, sheep, cows and even peacocks, there is beauty everywhere you look here. We strive to provide our community members a family-orientated atmosphere while ensuring privacy, dignity, decision-making ability and independence. 

 

Contact Us

If you would like more information on our facility and land, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Crescent Lake House. We can help you explore the features that make our facility unique, and the personal level of care we afford each of our residents. We look forward to making your family part of ours. Call us today!