Summers in Cerritos are beautiful; most days are sunny, dry, warm during the day and cooler at night. It’s the perfect season for spending time in nearby nature, catching a show with friends and family or enjoying our community events.
However, our clear days don’t provide much sun protection, and temperature spikes can make it difficult to help seniors stay active during the summer months. Sun sensitivity, heat intolerance and difficulty staying hydrated are all more likely as we age, often causing older adults to stay home rather than enjoying the warmer weather.
With a little extra planning, though, summers in Cerritos can be your loved one’s favorite time of year. Here are our favorite activities that keep local seniors moving, help them find their people and ensure they enjoy summer to the fullest.
The Best Summer Activities to Help Seniors Stay Active in Cerritos
Cerritos is full of fun programs and opportunities to help our seniors stay active year-round, and especially in summer. Here are the best ways to keep your loved one moving right now:
- Cool Off With a Swim
Swimming is a stereotypical exercise for seniors for a reason. In addition to helping them keep cool in summer, it’s also much easier on their joints than other forms of movement and cuts down their fall risk as well.
There are great water parks and other pools nearby, but our favorite is the Cerritos Olympic Swim and Fitness Center. It’s indoors, so it’s a great option in any weather, and they hold lap swim hours every day of the week. In addition, seniors receive a discount on the swim center’s already low entrance fee, and there are also on-site fitness facilities.
Just make sure they bring along an insulated water bottle, as well as high SPF sunscreen if they’ll be swimming outdoors.
- Go for a Stroll
We’re just a short drive away from some stunning preserves. Combined with typically cooler morning temperatures, going for a stroll along a nature trail is a great way to keep active while enjoying the great outdoors.
On sunnier days, though, one of the best ways older adults can stay active is by finding an enjoyable walk in an air conditioned location. While they could always hop on a treadmill at a gym, it can be more enjoyable to find a walk that involves more variety and socialization, especially if it’s available for free.
Malls like Los Cerritos Center are a great place to start. They offer a large, climate controlled area to walk, they’re filled with a fun variety of shops to keep walkers engaged and, if they need to rest, there are plenty of benches and places to grab a drink of water.
- Get Moving with Friends
One of the best ways to ensure seniors stay active during the summer is to find them enjoyable activities they can do with others. Knowing a group is pre-scheduled and waiting for them can make it easier to get moving even when they’re tempted to relax in the A/C instead.
The Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park makes it easy to find activities they’ll enjoy. They hold an impressive variety of fitness classes, including Zumba, Longevity Stick, chair yoga and more. The Center also offers seminars on proper fitness techniques, so your loved one can keep enjoying their favorite activity and minimize their risk of injury.
Beyond fitness classes, seniors can also sign up for a seemingly endless list of activities held at the Center. Whether they’d like to learn to play an instrument, sign up for community service, take in a lecture or even start their comedy career with a humor class, they can find a class or workshop. The Center also offers daily meals and even legal aid services for members.
Home Care Helps Seniors Stay Active in Cerritos
With the right preparation, summers can be seniors’ favorite time of year. One of the best ways to support them is to ensure they can take advantage of all we have to offer, and a professional caregiver from FirstLight Home Care of Cerritos can help.
By providing suggestions of local resources, transportation to and from events and a familiar companion when they’re trying out new activities, our caregivers can make this your loved one’s best summer yet. Reach out to us today to learn more about your care options.
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