Senior-Friendly Activities That Capture the Heart of Fall

Fall has officially arrived. It’s a season that brings so many wonderful opportunities for seniors to get out and enjoy cooler temperatures, leafy colors, and traditional activities. On your own or with friends and family, it feels good to enjoy the beauty and freshness of the changing season. These experiences can also trigger memories and a chance to reminisce about happy times from past years.

Fall Fragrances Boost Our Memories and Sense of Wellbeing

Neurologists tell us that “smell has a direct pathway to the brain’s memory and emotion centers.” That means “scents can trigger vivid, emotionally charged memories more quickly and intensely than other sensory cues.”

We can all relate to a time when a particular aroma brought back memories. But this fact is especially important in helping seniors with dementia, who often respond more actively and positively to remembered scents than other types of sensory stimulation.

Georgia and the greater Southeast United States are replete with senior-friendly things to do this fall. Here are just a few suggestions to help you plan your must-do list.

Leaf-Peeping

A stroll down the street, a hike in the park, a bicycle ride, a drive along a scenic country road. These activities are excellent ways to get outdoor exercise in fall, whatever your mobility capabilities. They also give us a chance to relish the beauty of colorful fall leaves. And you can do more than just look. Take photos, paint a picture, or inspect fallen leaves to decide which one is prettiest.

Where should you go? Check out these resources:

• Top 10 Georgia State Parks for Peak Color
• Georgia State Park’s Leaf Watch, which lets you know when fall colors are at their peak

Team up with the grandkids to collect leaves, pine cones, or other fall artifacts delivered by Mother Nature, then take them home to use in displays or art projects.

Fall flowers can be just as pretty as the leaves; go ask your local garden club if they host tours of public spaces or private gardens.

Go to the Farms, or the Farmers Markets

Fall is famous for corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and apple picking. Check out Georgia Grown to find locations of corn mazes and pumpkin patches throughout the state. The site has additional maps for apple picking and farmers markets around the state. For maximum down-on-the-farm fun, explore the Agritourism map for places that offer diverse activities for all ages.

Just walking around the farm can be good exercise, but many farms offer a lighter touch for seniors, with easy-access hay wagons and paved walkways.

Best of all, you can cart home your bounty and get busy baking or decorating. Teach a young person to bake the quintessential apple pie – or finally learn how to bake one yourself. Make old-fashioned applesauce or apple crisp, or just cut up those tasty beauties and munch on them as snacks. Bake a pumpkin pie from scratch, or expand your culinary expertise with new entrées that feature fresh sugar pumpkin.

Go for the Entertainment

Many communities put on fall festivals with all manner of activities, vendors, and musical entertainment. As the holidays edge closer, fairs and festivals offer outstanding opportunities for early shoppers to pick up unique gifts.

Feeling bold and brave? Haunted houses are popular leading up to Halloween, and organizations in nearly every community build them to scare up donations as well as provide some seasonally frightening fun.

Just Relax

Summer tends to be a busy season no matter your age, so now that the natural world is starting to slow down, you can do the same thing. Brew up some fragrant mulled cider, grab a throw, and retire to the porch or balcony to read a good book or listen to music. Gathering on the couch to watch an old favorite movie is just fine too. Stress reduction promotes senior health and wellbeing.

Plan a Visit to Magnolia Manor

We’re always up to something fun at our eight campuses throughout South Georgia, and you can be sure staff and residents are preparing to make the most of fall’s beauty and bounty. We love to include families and visitors. And if you’re considering a move to senior living for yourself or a loved one, there’s no better opportunity to see what life is really like at Magnolia Manor.

Give us a call at 1-855-540-LIFE (5433) or contact us online to schedule a tour to learn more about how joyous senior living can truly be!