Whether your loved one is elderly or enrolled in senior care with limited mobility, you can still enjoy the springtime. Use the following low-intensity activities to celebrate the triumphant return of warm weather in Alaska.

Activities to Try With Your Senior Loved One This Spring

1. Go to the Farmers Market

Alaska’s largest open-air market opens for the season on May 9 and reconvenes every Saturday and Sunday in downtown Anchorage until mid-September. The event hosts over 300 vendors, including local artists, craftspeople, nonprofits, performance artists, farmers, and artisanal bakers. The farmers market is a great place to get some exercise, enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and interact with the community. There's also a seated eating area where you can take a comfortable break between shopping.

2. Have a Picnic

When planning a picnic, choose foods that can be served at room temperature and won't get soggy. Fruit and cut vegetables work well, as do sandwiches, trail-mix, and pasta salad. Just make sure you bring enough napkins, utensils, plates, and cups to accommodate everyone, and a big blanket with comfortable throw pillows to help your loved one relax.

3. Walk Outside

See new springtime flowers by going on a short hike. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is paved and has multiple access points throughout the city, winding leisurely along the Knik Arm waterway. The Estuary Life Trail near Sitka, AK, is also a charming spot for birdwatching, though you should head out early to see the most wildlife.

If you or your loved one isn't able to walk or stand for long periods, try one of Alaska's spectacular scenic drives. For example, head south from Anchorage toward Seward to see the Chugach Mountains at Turnagain Arm.

4. Plant a Garden

Coordinate with your loved one's senior care provider to create a small garden in their backyard or a sunny window. Columbine, salvia, zucchini, dill, and carrots are relatively easy to grow in Alaska during warm weather. Bromeliads, spider plants, pothos, and snake plants are also excellent indoor plants for beginners.

5. Visit a Museum

The Alaska Native Heritage Center opens for the season on May 10. Visit the Hall of Cultures to learn more about the five major cultural groups that make up Alaska's Indigenous population. Then, check out the Gathering Place center stage for storytelling, game demonstrations, and dancing.

The Anchorage Museum also debuts new sound-based exhibits this April, including a collection of soundscapes and music from artists in Alaska, Scandanavia, Canada, and Russia. Two weeks later, dive into the world of Indigenous hip-hop at the Holvut//Howl listening event, or experience the North like never before and immerse yourself in an experimental wind instrument performance.

Compass Homecare helps seniors in Anchorage and Sitka maintain their independence with in-home respite care and personal assistance, so families can take advantage of their time together by doing the activities they enjoy. To find out how their senior care services can accommodate your loved one’s lifestyle and help keep them safe, visit them online. To talk with a compassionate team member, call (907) 276-6960 today.