At Bayshire Rancho Mirage, we acknowledge the significant advancements in assisted living communities over time. Outdoor excursions and meal times are no longer bland. Communities have begun blending both these social activities in the form of outdoor dining. Residents, especially those with mobility issues, no longer need to travel long distances to experience a change in scenery. Outdoor dining allows residents to feel refreshed, energized, and full of enthusiasm while sharing meals with peers. Who wouldn’t enjoy meals outside, taking in all the natural goodness? Read on to learn more about how outdoor dining enriches the lives of seniors in assisted living.
Physical And Sensory Benefits
Reminisce about your childhood when you used to play in the playground. There was something special about the moments when those sunbeams fell on your skin. That fresh air you enjoyed in those days felt really amazing. However, with age, we gradually started experiencing fewer of those moments. Living inside the four walls, we started missing out on the goodness that the sun has to offer. Taking a break from that traditional dining experience and choosing to dine outside carries both physical and sensory benefits. Here’s how:
Vitamin D & Fresh Air
It’s common for seniors to experience weaker bones as they age. Their digestive system doesn’t do the same job as it did for them in their youth. Lacking vitamin D in their diet, they experience muscle weakness, bone pain, and an increased risk of fractures and falls. Sitting outdoors and absorbing vitamin D from the sunshine is crucial for seniors, as it supports their bone strength, muscle function, and a healthy immune system. Fresh air circulation enhances their sense of smell and taste, making their meals more enjoyable and nutritious.
Sensory Stimulation
For seniors, outdoor dining offers a rich sensory experience that indoor settings often lack. Sitting outside in the open air engages multiple senses as the seniors take in the sights of greenery, birds chirping, and a gentle breeze rushing across their faces. The calm atmosphere in nature’s lap is often missing in indoor settings. This calming sensation helps seniors stimulate their brains and improve focus, which typically reduces as they age. This natural environment enhances their appetite and boosts digestion while promoting their well-being.
Mental & Emotional Benefits
Spending time outdoors in natural environments and enjoying their meals offers numerous advantages to seniors. Be it taking a break from their sturdy daily routine or fostering a calming sensation, outdoor dining has a lot to do with seniors’ health. Here we see how outdoor dining aids seniors in reducing stress, improving mood, and even stimulating creativity and memory, providing them with a comprehensive health boost.
Stress Reduction
Another common problem that most seniors face in their later years is anxiety, stress, and feelings of loneliness. Dining outdoors can provide them with the much-needed relaxation, as the outdoor environment is filled with numerous natural elements, such as sunlight, fresh air, and more. Spending time in nature, with elements such as sunlight and fresh air, has been shown to lower the body’s cortisol levels significantly. After eating, seniors can conveniently walk around the area and enjoy the change of scenery.
Improved Mood
Everybody enjoys the calming effects of nature for their mental health, irrespective of their age. But seniors need more mood-elevating activities as they struggle to maintain proper mental health in their golden years. One such activity is outdoor dining that helps them enjoy their delicious, nutritious meals in the comfort of their assisted living community. The multi-sensory stimulation that they get in the natural setting can increase their serotonin levels, and the shared conversations can help them deepen their relationship with peers.
Enhanced Creativity & Memory
There’s so much that matters when it comes to caring for the declining cognitive abilities due to aging. While it’s not possible to actually stop it from occurring, specific strategies can be used to reduce the rate at which this decline happens. Outdoor dining works pretty well in this area, too, as it enhances senior creativity and memory by providing them with a multi-sensory environmental stimulation that triggers their memories and sparks imagination. In addition, it also helps them with social interaction, through which they maintain cognitive sharpness and enjoy a calming experience.
Social & Community Enrichment
When done right, outdoor dining can be one of the best ways through which communities can boost social engagement between residents and foster a sense of community. Eating together is a shared experience that promotes a more supportive environment among residents.
Increased Social Interaction
Meal times provide a great socializing experience for seniors. They get to share their past stories, converse about the food itself, and get to know each other better, which results in deeper bonds. But going for the outdoor dining experience is what really becomes a game-changer for them. Sitting outside, they don’t just enjoy their food and communicate; they enter a whole new reality. This shared experience of sharing meals fosters a much stronger sense of community that even helps them reduce feelings of isolation. At special occasions, the community can even schedule themed outdoor dinners.
Strengthened Community
‘Together we eat, Together we grow.’ Assisted living communities like ours, Bayshire Rancho Mirage, are sustained by this very motto. Eating meals outside in a shared setting helps residents strengthen their relationships with each other and live united. The pleasant change of scenery allows residents to engage in deeper conversations and promotes better overall mental and emotional well-being.
Sense Of Normalcy
Those new to the community setting may feel awkward participating in the scheduled social activities. These shared outdoor meals are an excellent icebreaker for them. Conversations can spark friendships that last. Eating together, seniors feel valued and connected. Moreover, varied settings and activities, such as themed outdoor meals and garden events, would provide residents with a homelike environment, much like the one they enjoyed at home.
Bayshire Rancho Mirage—Experience A Graceful Aging
At Bayshire Rancho Mirage, we understand how even the smallest of experiences can mean so much for seniors. Eating outside with fellow residents does exactly that for them as they enjoy nutritious, delicious meals in a one-of-a-kind setting. Outdoor dining offers more benefits than dining at a restaurant. With such a rewarding experience and residents achieve better health outcomes over time.
Considering the importance of the dining experience for older adults, we at Bayshire Rancho Mirage provide all residents with a splendid dining experience. A registered dietician designs the entire menu to ensure that every resident receives the tailored nutrition that benefits them the most. For those seeking a trusted assisted living community for their aging loved one, they are welcome at our community, Bayshire Rancho Mirage. Contact us today and learn how our restaurant-style, health-packed meals can transform your loved one.
