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How do Senior People Benefit from Travelling?
How do Senior People Benefit from Travelling?
It may seem counter-intuitive to claim that senior citizens benefit from travel. These are the years when health begins to deteriorate and even energy levels decline. How can a senior person even begin to plan a travel itinerary, with all the logistic details and bookings and airfares to manage?
In fact, the very process of becoming involved in planning a trip can motivate seniors to become more active, get out of the slump of lethargy, develop a sense of purpose and just have fun. This is when poor health and thinking about poor health gets pushed into the background.
“Travel Therapy: Amazing Benefits of Travelling for Senior Citizens”
Hindstan Times Article
“Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer trip abroad, travelling can be a great way for seniors to stay active and engaged in life. Let’s explore some of the amazing benefits of travelling for senior citizens.
Travelling is a wonderful experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, including senior citizens. In fact, there are numerous benefits to travelling for older adults, from improving their mental and physical health to providing opportunities for socializing and learning new things.
Seniors see travel as a time to rediscover themselves. Travelling is not limited to merely exploring new and amazing destinations; it also has the potential to broaden one’s perspective. Travelling can be considered a form of therapy, as it helps seniors build self-assurance by confronting and overcoming their fears, thus stepping outside their comfort zones. This experience has been shown to have significant therapeutic advantages”.
Some Specific Benefits of Senior Travel (M.P.Deepu, Co-Founder, Senior World.)
“Stress due to loneliness is one of the most common conditions that the elderly face. Building their careers and keeping up to give their best to their families gets exhausting by the time they enter their 60s and they start feeling lonely and frustrated. This might impact their physical and mental health. Travel is indeed great for relieving stress and improving your general outlook on life. It also reduces the risk of dementia and can combat depression.
Seniors find a sense of purpose when they choose to travel and thus become less susceptible to cognitive impairment, heart attacks and strokes, thus allowing them to live longer.
The value of tourism has also been added to the studies of active ageing. An exploratory study of senior tourism by ( Philippa Hunter-Jones, Professor at the University of Liverpool School of Management)* suggested that vacations induce subjective feelings of relaxation, physical and mental well-being in seniors, and, in some instances, lead to reported improvements in certain chronic diseases, such as asthma and arthritis.
Engaging older adults in social activities with a group is of great importance as it helps to deepen connections and participating in specially curated adventure activities with a peer group boosts their cognitive well-being. The second innings of their lives gives seniors more time to enjoy and fulfil their wish of taking those trips that they had always dreamt of. Travelling is the perfect escape for them and motivates them to maintain their health, explore new things and release stress. They will be happier for the rest of their lives with improved physical, mental, and psychological health!”
*“Understanding the relationship between holiday taking and self-assessed health: an exploratory study of senior tourism” Philippa Hunter-Jones and Adele Blackburn.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2007.00607.x
Why Many Seniors Prefer to Travel in Groups
“The support and enthusiasm from others of similar age groups acts as a great motivation.
Improves Social Interaction
Lack of social interaction is the main cause of loneliness in older adults. While it may sound like a common issue, loneliness can lead to severe mental and psychological problems. When travelling in groups, you get the chance to meet great people, make new friends and exchange ideas. It helps enhance your social behaviour and also lets you increase your knowledge by allowing you to surround yourself with different people and cultures.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
The best tour groups for senior citizens feature various physical and relaxation activities, such as yoga sessions, laughing sessions, massage therapies, meditation sessions, etc., to offer a comfortable and healthy travelling experience to older adults. In addition to these features, exploring new places with the same age group or even a few youngsters can offer a sense of joy and happiness. This, in turn, helps reduce anxiety and stress.
Offers a Sense of Purpose
This is one of the most common problems among senior citizens, especially after retirement. Without work and other responsibilities, we tend to lose the purpose of life. This, in turn, results in hopelessness and mental issues such as depression and aggression. Travelling in groups offers a purpose of exploring new places and unlocking new experiences.
Saves Money
Another benefit of group travel for older adults is that it is highly cost-effective compared to travelling solo. Plenty of travel companies and agencies offer discounted packages for group trips for senior citizens.Such tour packages often include accommodation, food, and other amenities. This saves a lot of money and allows you to travel without breaking your bank.
Stress-free Travelling Experience
Planning a trip can be extremely overwhelming. This is especially true when travelling to an unfamiliar place such as abroad. From searching for the best destination and arranging accommodations to planning other activities, numerous considerations go into planning a successful trip for senior citizens.
However, this is not the problem with travel groups for senior citizens. Everything from your transportation, accommodation and even travel itinerary is curated in advance to offer a comfortable and hassle-free travelling experience. All you need to do is pack your bags and board your transportation on the scheduled date.
Motivation
Group travel for older adults brings a sense of motivation and enthusiasm to the group. Seeing other like-minded people enjoying to the fullest makes you push your limits and want to try new things. Ultimately, it helps you attain independence and peace of mind.
Enhanced Safety and Security
Another reason to consider group travel for senior citizens is that it is much safer than travelling alone. From group organisers and caretakers to fellow travellers, there are many people to look after you. Besides, the best group tour packages for seniors also offer on-demand assistance in case of any emergencies”.
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