Go outside!

With kids you always know when they need to go outside and run around.  With the elderly, we forget at times that they too need to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, even if they can't run around in it.  Getting a change of scenery does us all good.  Staying inside all day everyday is a good way to become disoriented and disconnected with reality.  Nearly everyone can benefit from time outside, especially in the beautiful late summer early fall weather.  Being in the northeast, I know sooner than we would like it will be cold and snowing, so get everyone outside when you can.  When the weather first starts getting nicer, there is often an increase behaviors and wandering on dementia units.  This may be related to the patients need to get outside, if only to feel the sunshine on their face.