{"id":8257,"date":"2025-11-04T06:54:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=8257"},"modified":"2025-11-04T06:54:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:54:53","slug":"the-health-benefits-of-spending-time-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2025\/11\/the-health-benefits-of-spending-time-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rajiv Roy is semi-retired from venture capital, but he\u2019s not slowing down. At age 66, he spends about half his time traveling\u2014just in the past six months, he\u2019s been to Colombia, China, India, Japan and Iceland\u2014to capture birds and other wildlife through his camera lens. <\/span><\/p>\n

Roy took up wildlife photography about eight years ago, and he\u2019s convinced it\u2019s helping him age more healthfully. When he\u2019s in nature, he\u2019s mentally engaged and physically active. He\u2019s often out by sunrise, scanning the horizon for wildlife, tracking and observing their behavior and moving constantly to position himself for a perfect shot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve never had a bad day outdoors,\u201d said Roy. \u201cIt gets you away from doomscrolling or stuffing your face mindlessly as you are triggered by political news.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

A growing body of research confirms Roy\u2019s observation: spending time in nature can help older adults stay physically active, mentally engaged, emotionally balanced, socially connected and even spiritually grounded. <\/span><\/p>\n

Compelling evidence is piling up for the health benefits of nature. A 2019 study of nearly 20,000 participants found that those who spent at least 120 minutes per week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and well-being compared to those with no contact with nature. The positive association was consistent across different age groups and health statuses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, a systematic review of studies through 2017 found that exposure to green space (such as parks or trails) was associated with wide-ranging health benefits, including reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol, incidence of Type 2 diabetes and stroke, and mortality. Those who live in urban areas with more green spaces are also less likely to have cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma hospitalization or mental distress. <\/span><\/p>\n

The benefits are so significant that initiatives like PaRx are cropping up to encourage physicians to write \u201cpark prescriptions,\u201d instructing patients to spend more time outdoors. PaRx, offered by the BC Parks Foundation in British Columbia, offers practical resources like quick tips and patient handouts to make prescribing time in nature easy and effective. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHealth care providers are always looking for simple, practical interventions they can make to improve their patients\u2019 lives,\u201d according to the PaRx website. \u201cThe beauty of PaRx is that almost anyone can increase the time they spend in nature, no matter what their physical abilities are or where they live.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual Ground<\/b><\/p>\n

Many cultures have long recognized the value of the natural world to human health. Scandinavians embrace<\/span> friluftsliv<\/span><\/i> or \u201copen-air living,\u201d which can range from spending days in a remote mountain hut to simply taking a lunchtime run in the forest. In Finland, saunas are a weekly or daily ritual, involving meditative sessions in heated spaces, sometimes alternated with dips in cold water or a quick roll in the snow. <\/span><\/p>\n

In Japan, s<\/span>hinrin-yoku<\/span><\/i>, or \u201cforest bathing,\u201d emerged in the 1980s as a kind of ecotherapy promoting mental and physical health. The practice involves spending time mindfully in the forest; other Asian countries, as well as Native American cultures, observe similar practices. <\/span><\/p>\n

John Dattilo, PhD, professor emeritus in Penn State University\u2019s recreation, park and tourism management department, was part of a team that surveyed older adult forest bathers in Taiwan. The researchers found that fostering social connections around nature-based activities could improve health and quality of life for older adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNature seems to provide a platform for connecting with other people and for cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose in life,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

You hear the river running, the birds singing, and you smell the foliage or the flowers. There\u2019s the sensation of snow or rain on your face. You don\u2019t get that when you\u2019re inside.<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2014Carol Hatch, MD<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When they spend time in nature, Dattilo said, older adults often experience awe and wonder, which promotes a sense of appreciation and gratitude. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGratitude is such an important aspect of healthy aging,\u201d he said. \u201cAs we cultivate a sense of gratitude, we tend to be happier and healthier and to age more meaningfully.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Many older outdoor enthusiasts report experiencing spiritual connection and meaning outdoors. <\/span><\/p>\n

Carol Hatch, MD, 74, a retired pediatric neurologist, finds spiritual nourishment on a hiking trail near her home in Connecticut. Now that they\u2019re retired, she and her husband help maintain the trails as volunteers. Over the decades, she has spent many hours on the trails\u2014sometimes alone, in reflection, and sometimes with friends, talking about what\u2019s going on in their lives. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt offers the possibility for introspection or for socialization, depending on how you choose to do it,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing on the trail is a symphony of sensory delight. You can feel the sun on your skin and the wind cooling you off. You hear the river running, the birds singing, and you smell the foliage or the flowers. There\u2019s the sensation of snow or rain on your face. You don\u2019t get that when you\u2019re inside.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Nature-Deficit Disorder<\/b><\/p>\n

In 2005, author Richard Louv coined the term \u201cnature-deficit disorder,\u201d identifying \u201cthe human costs of alienation from nature,\u201d such as behavioral and physical problems affecting children who never spend time outside. Louv noted that many children born in recent decades were among the first in human history to spend all their time indoors. <\/span><\/p>\n

Louv\u2019s research focused on children, but many people who work with older adults observe that those who are confined indoors\u2014whether due to isolation, mobility or health challenges\u2014may suffer similar effects. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSmall-world syndrome\u201d was the term that Maureen McFadden, senior services manager in Marquette, MI, and her colleagues coined for the negative effects they\u2019ve observed among older adults who never venture outside. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey develop a very consistent routine, they become more fearful, and they\u2019re not exposed to new experiences or opportunities to build resilience and confidence,\u201d she said.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Barriers to Getting Out <\/b><\/p>\n

Since retiring about 15 years ago, outdoor activities have kept Don and Kay Wendell on the move. They chalk up about 3,000 miles a year on their bikes and spend time canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt gets your heart rate up,\u201d said Don Wendell, 77. \u201cAnd I do some of my best thinking when I\u2019m out biking or hiking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But having spent his career in recreation\u2014he was director of parks and recreation in Plano, TX, when he retired in 2009\u2014Wendell acknowledges that many older adults don\u2019t get out to enjoy the outdoors. He thinks that many simply don’t know where to go or how to take advantage of outdoor recreation opportunities in their area. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a saying: \u2018It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how,\u2019\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other barriers that may keep older adults from venturing out, according to McFadden, include lack of transportation to safe and accessible outdoor spaces; limited physical ability or fear of falling or injury, particularly without guidance or adaptive equipment; social isolation, which can reduce motivation to try new things or venture out alone; and financial constraints, which may make equipment rentals, park entry fees or guided tours inaccessible.<\/span><\/p>\n

To help overcome those barriers, Marquette\u2019s Senior Center created Silver Sampler, a program to encourage people 50 and older to try a variety of outdoor recreational activities at no cost. Since 2015, Silver Sampler has offered a long list of events, including winter sports like ice skating, cross-country skiing, snow biking and snowshoeing, as well as summer activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, rowing, tour biking, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing and disc golf.   <\/span><\/p>\n

Participants undergo an interview before joining the program. That serves two purposes, McFadden says: to assess their capabilities and to ensure their safety, but also to gently encourage participants to try new things. For example, McFadden worked with a 76-year-old woman who was hesitant to try kayaking. The woman could swim and was physically up to the challenge, so McFadden reassured her that she would stay near her and teach her paddling techniques. Not only did the woman enjoy kayaking, she came back for another kayaking trip, and with her confidence boosted, joined other Silver Sampler outings. <\/span><\/p>\n

Silver Sampler participant Carol Steinhaus says she tried activities through the program she never would have otherwise. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would’ve never been on a fat-tire bike at this age,\u201d she said. \u201cI would not have tried downhill skiing. And I met people I would probably not have met otherwise, and I have really gained a lot from that. I’ve made lots of connections and it’s helped my life in many ways.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Overcoming Barriers<\/b><\/p>\n

Getting outdoors has always been a challenge for Marjorie Turner, 69. In her 30s, brain surgery left her totally paralyzed on one side of her body. She\u2019s able to walk now, using hiking poles, but the experience inspired her to publish a series of regional trail guides for hikers with mobility challenges. She says that getting outdoors may take a little more upfront research for older adults, especially those with mobility challenges. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not always easy to gauge the accessibility of a trail before visiting,\u201d she said. Most online sources are written for able-bodied people and often neglect to provide key information about trail surfaces or the availability of parking, benches and bathrooms. A trail rated as \u201ceasy\u201d might be level but littered with rocks or roots, posing a fall hazard for an older person with foot drop or neuropathy.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Turner notes that rail trails\u2014hiking trails built along former railway routes\u2014are often a good bet for older adults. Most are fairly level, paved and handicapped-accessible. Most are located near populated areas, with access to parking and bathrooms. (Find rail trails in your state at the <\/span>Rails to Trails Conservancy<\/a> website.)<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Turner advises older people who are venturing out into nature to never hike alone and to bring a cell phone, water and a fanny pack or light backpack. While it may take more planning to find safe, accessible places to enjoy nature, Turner says, it\u2019s worth the effort. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as I step outside, my heart is lighter,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Transformations <\/b><\/p>\n

McFadden says outdoor recreation can transform the lives of older adults. She witnessed that with the Silver Sampler program. One participant, Don Bode, joined shortly after retiring and moving to Marquette. He was overweight, struggled with joint pain, had been physically inactive for many years and didn\u2019t know anyone in the area. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bode started kayaking and hiking. He met new people and lost 60 pounds. He discovered <\/span>asahi<\/span><\/i>, a Finnish fitness practice, and even went to Finland to become a certified instructor. Now he teaches <\/span>asahi<\/span><\/i> at the Senior Center in Marquette. <\/span><\/p>\n

Joining Silver Sampler, Bode said, made him feel part of a community and gave him a sense of purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can wake up every morning and say to yourself, \u2018What am I going to do today that’s going to keep me from aging in a poor manner?\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cOr I can do something that the Silver Sampler taught me.\u2019\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rajiv Roy is semi-retired from venture capital, but he\u2019s not slowing down. At age 66, he spends about half his time traveling\u2014just in the past six months, he\u2019s been to Colombia, China, India, Japan and Iceland\u2014to capture birds and other…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more The Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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