Spending time outdoors is important for the overall health and well-being of children and adults alike, according to the University of Illinois Extension. But some of the challenges that may accompany old age, including increasing physical frailty, can make getting outside a challenge. As you select outdoor activities for yourself, a friend or a client, consider your--or the other person's--activity level: Can you stand or walk without assistance? Can you stand or walk with aid? Do you have the strength and dexterity to manipulate objects involved in your activity of choice, like shoelaces or backpack zippers, on your own?
Walking
Walking is a chance both to get outdoors and to exercise. Keep in mind that all groups move according to the limits of the slowest member, so plan the outing around that member's abilities. Look for wide, broad paths without steep up- or downhill grades. Consult local visitor centers or state and national parks or forests to locate wheelchair- or elder-friendly trails in your area.
If you're not up to a nature hike, consider going for a walk in the local botanical gardens, in a commercial orchard or through an outdoor market.
Animals
Walking well-behaved dogs, if you're sufficiently mobile to do so, is a win-win situation. The dogs get the benefit of exercise and human bonding time, and you get the benefit of exercise, along with the calming influence of a well-behaved animal. Other outdoor, animal-centered activities suitable for seniors include petting or caring for animals housed in the yard at the local SPCA, feeding ducks, bird watching or visiting the zoo.
Boat
Riding seated in a boat in calm water can be an exciting change of pace that requires relatively little balance or mobility on an elder's part.
Fishing
Reeling in a giant halibut may require a lot of physical effort, but fishing for smaller species can be a laid-back way to spend time outside, punctuated by the excitement of the catch. You don't have to be able to stand or walk to fish, but you do need to be strong enough to grasp and manipulate the rod and reel. If you're confined to a wheelchair, you also need access to a solid, stable, wheelchair-accessible dock.
Gardening
Gardening is a low-impact way of getting outside. The initial work of putting a garden in or harvesting can be back-breaking, but tending the garden is a soothing alteration to your daily routine that you're free to perform at your own pace. If you recruit a strong, young back to help you with the most physically demanding parts of gardening, you'll have the added benefit of company and mentoring a new gardener.
Touring
Just because you're technically classified a senior doesn't mean you're frail or disabled. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) regularly promotes travel and adventure opportunities for so-called senior citizens. There's no reason for you not to get out and explore if you're physically able to withstand the vigors of travel, and many travel companies offer options designed specifically for those retirement-age and above.
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