Old age is not an excuse for seniors not to enjoy the great outdoors. If anything seniors will benefit immensely from interacting with nature.
Being outdoors helps to boost mental and physical health. It also helps seniors to cope with social isolation, depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness.
With a little research, seniors including those who use mobility aids such as walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters can participate in many outdoor activities at the local parks.
The park is one of the most magical places for seniors to get in touch with nature. And it helps that there are plenty of activities that they can do depending on their physical conditions. Even if one is able to walk around the park, it’s best to have a wheelchair or mobility scooter to assist you when you get tired. If you don’t have a mobility aid, you can check in to parks that have wheelchairs for rent
Here are a few parks that are accessible and adaptable for seniors
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is wheelchair accessible. You may not descend further down into the canyon, but you will most certainly enjoy many of the views of the park from the top as well as access all the lodges, hotels, and campgrounds.
Niagara Falls State Park
It’s impressive how a state park would go over and above to make a park fully wheelchair accessible. The Niagara Falls State Park, one of the most magnificent waterfalls, has smooth paved trail lines to allow seniors access to views across the falls. The park also has a wheelchair-accessible boat that can bring seniors right to the base of the Horseshoe falls and an elevator that can bring them to the base of American falls for a better view. In addition, the observation tower over the river can be accessed by wheelchair users.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is located in the northeast U.S. in the state of Maine. To help seniors get around, the park has several shuttles that ferry them to the main attraction points in the park. All of the attractions and some trails are wheelchair accessible.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest parks in the states, it borders three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The park has made some great strides in making it wheel-accessible. For instance, you can rent a wheelchair at the park to help you get around. Also, a majority of the fishing sites, walkways, and trails are accessible to seniors.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
If you prefer a less crowded park, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a great place to be. It has two entrances, with the south entrance being the wheelchair accessible one.
Best Activities for seniors to do while at the parks
There are lots of activities to get seniors engaged in the park. Some parks may have more than others but ideally, these are the activities you can do:
- Birdwatching
- Picnics
- Landscape painting
- Fishing
- Nature walks
- Wheelchair hiking
- Yard games
Conclusion
The park is one of the best places for seniors to be. The fresh air, scenery, and plenty of activities make the park such an interesting place to re-energize and stay active. Make a point of visiting one of these parks or find a local accessible park near you.
