Chat with us
Good Neighbor Insurance
  • plans
    • Travel InsuranceFor trips from 2 days to 2 yrs
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • COVID-19 Coverage
      • Pre-existing Conditions
      • Trip Cancellation
      • Annual Plans/Frequent Fliers
      • Traveling While Pregnant
      • Over 65
      • Emergency Evacuation Only
      • Adventure Sports
      • Inside the USA
      • More Options
    • Int’l Health InsuranceFor relocating/moving abroad
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • COVID-19 Coverage
      • Nomads
      • Maternity Coverage
      • For Canadians
      • International Term Life
      • For Furlough/Sabbatical
      • Supplemental Plans
      • International Students
      • Local Nationals
      • More Options
    • Group Travel PlansFor teams traveling together
      • Recommended / All Plans
      • COVID-19 Coverage
      • Trip Cancellation
      • Over 65
      • Pre-existing conditions
      • Personal Liability
      • To the USA
    • Int’l Group Health Plans(For organizations/employers)
      • Group Health Plans
      • Supplemental Plans
      • Census Forms/RFP forms
      • For Small Groups
      • The Process
      • Free Guides
  • resources

    Resources

    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Ask Doug
    • Free Guides
      • Trip Guides
      • Top Three Travel Risks
      • Free Guide To Travel Safety
      • Travel Medical Guide 101
    • Glossary
    • Ask Jeff
    • Helpful links:
      • Get Involved
      • Mission Resources
      • Responding to Crisis
      • Social Good Resources
      • Gap Year Resources
      • Volunteer Opportunities Overseas
  • company

    About us

    • Who We Are
    • Our Values
    • Testimonials
    • Meet The Team
    • Our Friends
    • Contact Us
    • Get a Quote
(480) 813-9100 Quote Chat

Blog

Good Neighbor Travel Insurance Blog

Four Things Short Term Trips Offer Seniors

November 7, 2009 By : Doug Gulleson

When planning Short Term trips, most people’s hopes are for teens and young people to get fired up about living their purposefully. After all, that’s when a person lays a foundation for the rest of their life. But what about those who already have a foundation and maybe have some wisdom to go with it? Seniors are not only a burgeoning part of the American population, but they also aren’t ready for a rocking chair. They want to see new places, learn new things and perhaps teach a few things to younger people. And why not? Modern transportation and information systems make it increasingly possible. Here are four opportunities Short Term trips can offer seniors:

1. To see new things. Now I’m not talking about the touristy types of new things here. Seniors can be tourists on a cruise, if they choose. But getting off the beaten path and hanging with locals is not a touristy thing. Helping a class in Eastern Europe or China with English will certainly get you out of your comfort zone. The question is, are your seniors too old to learn new things like Teaching English As A Second Language? Perhaps they can lead younger team members by example in gracefully accepting new experiences. The truth is, no one who is willing to risk their comfort zone is too old to learn what is really happening in the world. And the best way to know this is to see it first hand.

2. To make new friends. 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.” Working alongside nationals in other countries can be a golden opportunity to widen a senior’s circle of friends. E-mail and snail mail (you know, through the Post Office) can keep seniors in touch with new friends even after they have returned to the United States. Unlike young people, many seniors actually try to keep in touch with their friends. They may even want to go back and see them again, if the situation permits. 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.

3. To make a difference. Anyone can make a difference. That is the truly great lesson of life. History proves that imperfect people change the world, no matter the age. American seniors long to know they still make a difference. In 2003, 18.6 percent of men over age 65 still worked and most said they worked because they liked their job and wanted to stay on. It gave them a sense of purpose. Seniors have lived a while and hopefully learned from life lessons they can pass on to team members or to the people they are serving. If nothing else, they may know how to slow down and really listen to others.

4. Personal renewal. Inner transformation can occur when people are put in different situations.  The newness of it gets the brain to think, and in turn that enlarges the heart. Seniors are richer for new experiences. Prejudices shift and often totally disappear.  One-sided beliefs get dismantled with new information. This all adds up to personal renewal, the kind that helps seniors find new joy and purpose in life.

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 annually insures close to 100 short term teams.  Check out our short-term team plans.

Doug Gulleson

Search Results

How to Celebrate Christmas in America

December 10, 2014

Christmas in America – Understanding American Christmas traditions and how to act properly at Christmas. “What does it mean?” The “Why?” we follow the  Christmas traditions we do in America. A simple guide for non-native speakers and visitors to the USA In case you were wondering. If you are a student, a recent immigrant to […]

Read Article

Arizona and what our GNI Team thinks about living in this great State

November 11, 2014

Good Neighbor Insurance office is nestled in the best State in the Union, Arizona of course!  Did you know that Arizona is not mostly dessert?  That is correct, my friend!  Did you know Arizona is the sixth largest U.S. State in land-mass? Heat: Yes, it can get mightily hot.  Many say it is a dry […]

Read Article

Are you traveling safe?

February 26, 2014

Are you traveling safe? Do you even know the TOP risks travelers face? If you don’t know the most common dangers, how can you protect yourself or those you are traveling with? Did you know that it’s not terrorists, or your plane going down over the ocean? You are more likely to get struck on […]

Read Article

5 Best Places to Visit in Arizona and What to do There

June 26, 2020

If you are looking for a great vacation destination, Arizona should be at the top of your list. It is home to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country and filled with many incredible geological formations and canyons to explore along with numerous attractions to choose. In this article, we are highlighting the […]

Read Article

Five Tips for Debriefing a Short Term Team

October 16, 2009

As the saying goes, “Hindsight is 20/20.” Good debriefing can help planners turn hindsight into foresight for next year’s summer trips. So here are five things to consider when debriefing your team. 1. Keep it laid back. Have you ever noticed that mountain-top experiences are exhausting? Most teams are ready for a “vacation” when they […]

Read Article

Health Insurance news from around the world: Taiwan

September 24, 2010

Good Neighbor Insurance  provides overseas health insurance plans that cover those who are Taiwanese citizens and non-Taiwanese citizens.  Their plans cover all medical costs including maternity–if one wants to add that benefit to their policy.  Check out https://www.gninsurance.com/health/ for more information. Taiwan’s healthcare system is financed through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, funded by contributions […]

Read Article

Copyright © 2021 Good Neighbor Insurance All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Site Terms
  • Privacy Policy