A bluebell hunt with a difference!
One of the reasons why I set up And Wiser was to help those who could no longer manage the things they loved to do when they were more agile. I help them by finding practical solutions so that they are able to enjoy those things again. Sometimes there’s a simple solution. Sometimes it takes a bit more planning and thought. But there’s usually a way of helping to make their lives a bit easier and getting them back to doing the things they used to enjoy, albeit in a slightly different way.
The benefits of being outdoors for older adults
Getting outside and enjoying the fresh air benefits everyone, no matter what their age. But for older people, it can make a huge difference, particularly if they’re unable to get out and about on their own. The health benefits of being outdoors include boosting vitamin D intake with the sun. Even 15 minutes of exposure to the sunshine vitamin can help to give our bodies a boost.
Exercise and mobility become increasingly important the older we get. Getting outside, even if it’s just to tend to a raised bed in the garden, helps to maintain strength and mobility. It can also help to boost our immune system and provide a better quality of sleep.
But perhaps the greatest benefit for older adults is that getting out and about in nature and enjoying the scents, animals, and greenery helps us to feel at our best.
We’re lucky enough to have some stunning coastlines and countryside in the North East of England and getting out and about to enjoy it is something that’s important to many. As the seasons change, there are different treasures to see and early spring is the perfect time to hunt for bluebells. Some years I've missed them, just because I've been too busy. Too busy to realise it was that time of year. Too busy to make the time.
But this time I was supporting a client. In years gone by she would have just decided to go, and got there under her own steam. Or she would have met up with her rambling club friends for a trip out. But now she doesn't drive. She walks with a stick and needs to take it slowly, and very carefully. Her rambling club days are long gone.
Online research
Around Morpeth, we have some lovely places to enjoy the bluebells around April and May. But those places tend to be difficult to access unless you can manage some long stretches of uneven ground, steep muddy paths, and steps.
As we live in an age where search engines or social media groups often have the answer to everything, I posted a question in our local Facebook group, 'Morpeth Matters'. It’s a group that is sometimes just full of posts about missing cats, bad parking, and complaints about the council. On this occasion, however, there were lots of helpful suggestions and I found the perfect spot.
An accessible bluebell walk in Morpeth
We parked outside the Waterford pub, walked through Carlisle Park, passed the Emily Davison statue, and went on into Postern Woods. It felt almost magical as the sunbeams flashed through the trees making little puddles of light and creating a wonderful, enchanting atmosphere.
We could hear birds singing all around us. We soaked it all in, stopping often, not just to rest, but to take in all of the sights, sounds, and smells. And the bluebells didn’t disappoint, creating a blue blanket sweeping up the steep wooded banks.
My client thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the woods. It’s something she couldn’t have done on her own, but it gave her so much joy to be able to get out into the fresh air and enjoy an enchanting bluebell hunt. The flowers were spectacular and made all of the planning worthwhile.
Sometimes we take it all for granted. The ability to just go somewhere, and see whatever we want, whenever we want, without a second thought. We just hop in the car and drive, walk, or use public transport without being concerned about whether our legs will take us that far. Or whether we can still safely drive.
But sometimes it's not just busyness that gets in the way.
How And Wiser can help
I help people live well at home, as independently as possible, by providing a high quality and flexible service for families. I tailor my support to suit each individual - working with clients who don't need (or don't want) carers, and also clients who already have a care package in place.
If you're looking for flexible support at home for independent living, visit my main website pages to find out more about my services and to book a free initial consultation.
You can also find another blog post with 5 accessible walks in and around Morpeth, or head over to my blog section to read about some of the ways I’ve helped clients with things like keeping cool on a warm night, arranging for cleaners, organising medical appointments, and solving the problem of missing keys.
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