The Health Benefits of Sea Air to the Elderly

Oh, we like to be beside the seaside – the words of that song are nothing more or less than the truth. Not only is a day by the beach more likely to be fun than a day spent at home, even without anything especially nice happening (a free ice cream, successfully building a beautiful sandcastle, spotting a crab in a rock pool), our mood tends to improve very quickly after we reach the beach. And these benefits apply to the entire population, young or old. Here are some health benefits of sea air to the elderly, in particular.

Kind to Skin

Seawater is packed with magnesium, which works on the skin, helping to maintain the hydration barrier and reducing dryness and thinning that can cause or worsen wrinkles. Other minerals and salts are also beneficial, and seawater can soothe irritation and ease skin conditions.

Respiratory Benefit 

Sea air tends to be full of saline spray, and our lungs love it! A visit to the seaside often eases bronchial conditions, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, and even allergies and hay fever can benefit from the pollen being blown out to sea!

All those Negative Ions

Air saturated with water, such as that near waterfalls, fountains, and the sea is packed with negatively charged ions that make you feel good and are strongly believed to improve your ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions are calming, work on your immediate tensions, and have a knock-on effect that helps you sleep better.

White Noise

It is widely known that having natural sounds playing out in the background is conducive to good sleep, helping you fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and feel more rested. This can include ground-based sounds: the rustle of the wind through leaves or grasses, rainfall, and the ocean waves background sound. The sound of the ocean is one of the best and most popular 'white noise' soundtracks because the in and out of the waves simulates a gentle heartbeat, which is simultaneously calming, comforting, and soothing – all of which are a great aid to a good night's sleep from which you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for breakfast.

Improved Mental Health

There is something about the sea air that makes us humans feel positive and good about ourselves. Some of this is due to the negative ions that boost our serotonin production – the 'feel happy' hormone – but it is also to do with being on the edge of the land, with the vast, welcoming sea stretching out in front of us. The sight of the immensity of the sea encourages us to be calm and peaceful, which is very restful in today's busy modern world.

Care homes in Devon overlook the ocean, and the air is filled with those mood-boosting ions. This provides the perfect environment for older people to feel comfortable and at home yet still have a sense of purpose and joie de vivre.