The majority of people love the summer months, as the weather is nice and it is an awesome time to get some exercise done, as a lot of people would rather be outside getting some vitamin D from the sun, instead of being inside of their house. We all know the importance of exercising, whether we are young or old and as we age, we typically need to find low impact exercises that does not put too much pressure on our joints, this is why exercising in the pool can be the perfect form of a workout for seniors. In addition, pools are a great way to beat the heat, while being active outside, and exercise releases those feel good endorphins.

Now just like with kids, seniors also need to practice pool safety and they should never swim alone. Children should always have a parent with them and seniors should always have a caregiver, family member or friend when they want to go swimming. Some of us may remember this from camp, but with pool safety you should always have a buddy system.

Every pool should be equipped with pool rails that are securely attached adjacent to the pool steps to assist with getting out and into the pool; these should be at every entrance point for the pool. It’s not a bad idea to look into purchasing an ADA pool lifts for seniors that are going to use the pool on a regular basis.

The pool area should also be free of any items that could cause someone to fall or trip into the pool. Just like inside your home, you make sure that there are no electrical cords that are in the way and the carpet is tacked down properly to avoid falling and tripping.

If you are a senior with a pool or if you have a loved one that has a pool, but they haven’t used it because of safety issues, then it may be time to get a pool assessment.