The Many Benefits of Travel for Seniors
As someone over age 65, you may wonder why you should consider traveling. Many things could go wrong, including sickness, injury or even death. However, there are quite a few benefits of travel for seniors that make this a worthwhile risk to take.
Granted, not every senior is able to travel. Situations vary with some people having health concerns, grandchildren to care for, or still needing to work due to financial hardship.
However, traveling while you’re a senior has its advantages. You have the chance to see new places, learn new things and perhaps teach a few things to younger people.
This is your chance to see that place you always dreamed of visiting. And why not? Modern transportation and information systems make it increasingly possible to travel easily.
The reality is that we don’t know how much longer we have on this earth. So, it’s best to live your life to its fullest. This is true no matter what age you are but especially for seniors.
Read below to discover five incredible benefits of travel for seniors.
1. Travel Keeps You Physically Active
As we age, it’s increasingly difficult to stay physically active and to find motivation to remain active. Pain and sickness come more regularly, and we become fatigued much more quickly.
As a result, we tend to become less physically active. However, this is the opposite of what we need to stay healthy. One of the main keys to staying healthy is physical exercise.
It’s important we find an activity we thoroughly enjoy doing to help us stay motivated to move. This may be pickleball, cycling, dance, golf, or even travel.
Traveling can be physically exerting as you see new places. If you’re walking around to museums and other tourist sites, you could easily put in over 10,000 steps in a day.
You can also choose travel destinations that require more walking or hiking if you’re up for it. Hiking is always more fun when seeing new places and experiencing new things.
2. Travel Keeps You Mentally Strong
Another part of our health that tends to go downhill as we age is our mind. It’s a well-known fact that if we don’t keep our mind sharp, it will begin to fade.
We can do this by reading, building puzzles, knitting, being involved in organizations, doing word activities, and more. Travel can also help keep our mind sharp. How so?
First, you can learn some of the local language and culture. We highly recommend you learn a few simple phrases and greetings as it will go a long way with the locals. Also, discover some cultural differences to prevent embarrassment.
Second, you will be learning as you navigate a new place. You will need to learn where things are and how best to get from place to place.
Third, you can make part of your trip focused on learning about history. As you visit museums or other places of interest, you can learn about the history and culture associated with it. Reading about this will help your mind remain active.
Finally, taking in all the new sites and sounds will keep your mind on alert. You’ll be making new memories that will be etched in your brain for many years to come.
3. Make a Lasting Difference
Anyone can make a difference in the world. That is the truly great lesson of life. History proves that imperfect people change the world, no matter the age.
We all want to make an impact, and this is especially true of seniors. Around 19 percent of people over age 65 still work. Most said they worked because they liked their job and wanted to stay on. It gave them a sense of purpose.
Another benefit of travel for seniors is making a lasting difference. You can do this by taking a trip with purpose. You can help at an orphanage, take care of animals, provide medical care, serve at a church, and so much more.
Seniors have lived a while and learned from life lessons they can pass on to team members or to the people they are serving. If nothing else, many know how to slow down and really listen to others, which will have an impact.
4. Travel Brings Personal Enrichment
Traveling can be a great way to help others, but it can also bring great enrichment to our own lives. Obviously, trips can bring us pleasure and entertainment. But, they can also change us.
Inner transformation often occurs when people are put in different situations. The newness of it gets the brain to think, and in turn that enlarges the heart. Prejudices shift and often totally disappear. One-sided beliefs get dismantled with information about other cultures and worldviews.
We can learn about our ancestors, country, and culture. We may also learn about another culture and perspective that will help us better understand others.
This all adds up to personal renewal, the kind that helps seniors find new joy and purpose in life. We will become richer from these new experiences, which is what makes it another benefit of travel for seniors.
5. Make New Social Connections
While young people search for novel experiences, most seniors are more interested in relationships. After all, relationships with others enrich lives already rich in “things.” Relationships are what truly matter in the long-run.
Working alongside nationals in other countries can be a golden opportunity to widen our circle of friends. It’s now easier than ever to connect with people from any country around the world.
E-mail and texting, (or even snail mail) can help people stay in touch with new friends even after they have returned back home. Many seniors actively try to keep in touch with their friends. They may even want to go back and see them again, if the situation permits.
Seniors planning on traveling to a particular place on a regular basis should consider purchasing annual travel health insurance. Planners considering adding seniors to their short term teams may want to consider permanent relationships with a particular international partnership or project so this option remains available.
Don’t Forget the Senior Travel Health Insurance!
As you can see, there are many benefits of travel for seniors. However, taking trips, especially at an older age can be risky.
Before you go, don’t forget to purchase travel medical insurance for seniors. This will give your family and loved ones peace of mind to know you will be taken care of in a medical emergency.
Check out our group travel medical plans if you’re going with friends or an organization. We also have plenty of individual travel health insurance plans for seniors as well.
Does adding seniors to your Short Term plans add some new considerations? Of course. But there are plenty of experts to help. Travel insurance experts can help with those types of concerns.
Good Neighbor Insurance has been protecting seniors since 1997. You can trust that we will help you find the right plan to fit your specific travel needs. Our experts are here to serve you!
Enjoy your travels, wherever they may take you!
