Top 10 Summer Activities for the Elderly

As the warmer weather arrives, longer days and sunshine offer the perfect setting to enjoy being outdoors and embrace the simple pleasures. For elderly people, summer is both an enjoyable time of year and an opportunity to enjoy meaningful, light-hearted activities that encourage movement, social interaction, and a deeper connection with nature and like-minded individuals. In this blog, we explore some of the top 10 summer activities for care home residents across the UK.

The Importance of Regular Activities For Care Home Residents

Carefully planned, inclusive sessions can support every aspect of a resident’s health and well-being. From encouraging physical movement to stimulating their minds, the benefits of regular activities are huge. For older people, structured activities provide comfort, familiarity and a sense of purpose. They also help maintain routine, support cognitive function, boost self-esteem and offer valuable social opportunities.

Our Top 10 Summer Activities

1- Gardening

Gardening is one of the most loved summer activities for older adults, as many of them enjoyed maintaining their own garden in their younger years. Gardening can be adapted for all abilities and can include going to the garden centre and picking plants, planting them in the garden or being responsible for their upkeep. It offers sensory stimulation, gentle exercise and the joy of watching something grow. For people living with dementia, gardening can also spark memories and encourage connection with nature.

2- Outdoor Games

Garden games like ring toss, giant Jenga or board games are a great way to enjoy fresh air while improving motor skills, muscle strength and social interaction. These can be enjoyed whilst seated or standing and can be adapted so that residents of all mobility levels can join in and encourage residents to be active and engaged, which contributes to their mental well-being and physical health.

3- Social Events

Summer months are the perfect time to host a party or social event in the garden. Garden parties help bring people together and can be made even better by inviting friends, family members and the local community. A lot of care homes also arrange for local entertainers to attend and encourage residents to sing and dance along. Social interaction is a key part of well-being, and these types of gatherings often reduce stress and help encourage seniors to feel part of the community.

4- Community Outings

Spending time in local parks or at the beach can help break up a typical routine and provide fresh air and gentle movement while taking in new surroundings. These trips also offer health benefits, such as improved mood, reduced blood pressure and increased vitamin D levels. When organised with residents in mind, they can be adapted to those with high-dependency needs and remain a common favourite within the activities calendar.

5- Arts & Crafts

Creative sessions that explore summer through painting, drawing or crafts are a wonderful way to encourage expression, stimulate cognitive function, support problem solving, improve fine motor skills and are especially beneficial for people living with dementia. These can be completed inside or outside and are a calming way to unwind and reflect.

6- Garden Exercise Classes

Gentle exercise classes, including chair-based movement or tai chi, are often held outdoors during the summer months. These sessions can be tailored to those with reduced mobility and help support muscle strength, improve balance, and maintain a steady heart rate, while also boosting mental health and confidence. Residents often finish these feeling more refreshed and energised and always look forward to the next class.

7- Making Cooling Treats Through a Baking Club

Making ice lollies or similar cool treats on warm afternoons is a fun activity that combines entertainment and dining. You can easily tailor them to residents' needs by including a variety of flavours and textures. Cool desserts have several uses and can be incorporated into larger summer events or provided during moments of rest and reflection.

8- Starting a Book Club

On pleasant summer days, residents might enjoy completing jigsaw puzzles outdoors or joining in with a relaxed book club session in the shade. Activities coordinators can get books that residents request and spend quiet moments reading and discussing them. These calm, focused activities can help reduce stress, improve attention span and provide valuable opportunities for conversation and shared interests.

9- Music and Dancing

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy live performances from local entertainers or organise music sessions with sing-alongs and dancing. Whether residents are seated or on their feet, music can encourage gentle movement, help maintain motor skills and offer a valuable sense of expression. Dancing also has numerous benefits, including reduced stress and stimulation opportunities. For residents living with dementia, music and physical activities can be especially powerful as they help to spark memories and connect them with moments from earlier life.

10- Sensory Sessions

There are many ways to stimulate all the senses during the summer through sensory activities, including handling seasonal plants, enjoying scented lotions, listening to natural sounds like birdsong or water features and tasting fresh fruit or ice lollies. For elderly people, these sessions can offer comfort and familiarity both indoors and outdoors.

Our Activities Programme at The Fleet Care Home

At The Fleet Care Home in Dartmouth, we understand how important it is for residents to make the most of the summer months. Whether it’s enjoying an ice lolly in the garden, playing outdoor games, or joining in with a crafting session, our activities are designed to bring joy and promote well-being for all. Our activities coordinators carefully plan each session to suit a wide range of interests and needs. Whether our residents require residential care, nursing care, dementia care, respite care or palliative care, we have something for everybody.

If you’d like to find out more about the summer activities we offer here at The Fleet, or to arrange a visit for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch. We’d be delighted to welcome you.