Travel Tips for Seniors: Practical Advice for Peace of Mind

Say the word “travel” and what comes to mind — jetting off to some exotic location, a cross-country road trip, or an all-inclusive cruise to the Caribbean?

Some people are born with wanderlust in their DNA, while others are just fine being homebodies. If you’re an adventurer who craves exploring new places, keep it up. But even if you prefer to stay in your comfort zone, you should consider incorporating some form of travel into your life. Here’s why.

Benefits of travel for older adults

Although most people consider travel a leisure activity, research confirms that it offers potential health benefits. A 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that travel can play a significant role in healthy aging and contribute to overall well-being. 

The study discussed the value of travel for maintaining or improving physical and mental health, finding that travel can: 

• Provide learning opportunities that support intellectual development and preserve cognition.
• Lift spirits through companionship, reminiscence, and the opportunity for escape from routine.
• Improve physical health. 

Some people report that chronic conditions such as arthritis and asthma improve with travel. At the very least, getting out of the house requires physical activity, which can help maintain mobility and independence.

Tips to stay healthy while you travel

As with much in life, travel is not without risks. But don’t let that stop you! There are steps you can take to optimize the rewards and minimize mishaps. Before you hit the road, here are some of the top steps you can take to protect your health:

• Talk with your doctor if you have a chronic illness. Studies indicate that changes in your environment may affect your established coping mechanisms, so consult your physician to assess potential health impacts. 
• Check that vaccinations are up to date, and if others are required for your destination. 
• Carry medications on your person and consider the logistics involved with transporting medical equipment.
• Have a plan in case you need medical treatment while away from home.
• Follow public health guidance. The Centers for Disease Control notes that wearing a mask can help prevent respiratory illness, especially in crowded spaces. Adults older than 65 — particularly those with chronic conditions or who are immunocompromised — are more vulnerable to respiratory infections. 

How to choose accommodations

If you have limited mobility, where you stay while away should meet certain safety criteria. Older hotels, those off the beaten track, or places booked through platforms such as Airbnb, may fall short. Ask yourself:

• Is the accommodation accessible to any mobility aids you use?
• Is there an elevator? 
• Are there hazards that may lead to falls, including stairs, uneven floors, poor lighting, and bathrooms that don’t meet safety standards for older adults or individuals with disabilities?
• Is the facility secure with on-site staff to provide resources or help resolve problems that arise?
• Is someone available to help with luggage, or will you be on your own?
• Is there easy access to transportation or sites of interest?

What to consider when flying

Even the most seasoned traveler can find air travel stressful these days. To ease the burden air travel may cause:

• Pack medical devices and medications in a carry-on bag, and check Transportation Security Administration rules ahead of time for up-to-date information.
• See whether you’re eligible for expedited TSA screening. If you’re 75 or older, TSA might let you go through security in the PreCheck line.
• Consider whether you’re at risk of falling. Busy airports and tight spaces on airplanes can be a fall risk. The airline will help if you call ahead and ask about priority boarding.
• Drink plenty of water. Plane cabins typically have low humidity, which can lead to dehydration and aggravate respiratory illnesses. Often, older people don’t detect thirst until they become dangerously dehydrated.
• On long flights, be sure to walk in the aisle to prevent blood clots, particularly if you’re at high risk. That includes people who’ve had surgeries or recent hospitalizations, cancer, or who have a family history of blood clots.
• Schedule downtime once you get to your destination to rest before engaging with your itinerary.

Advice from seasoned travelers

So you’re convinced that it’s time to take a trip. What now? 

When they’re not on the road, a vibrant cohort of intrepid travelers calls Hebrew SeniorLife’s senior living communities, including Orchard Cove in Canton, MA, and NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA, home. Their stories validate much of the expert advice and offer a nuanced perspective that only lived experience provides. They share how they plan and negotiate travel to ensure it aligns with their goals and lifestyles.

Debbie and Harvey have lived at Orchard Cove for 30 years and traveled abroad into their early 90s until the pandemic forced a hiatus. Debbie lives with chronic illness, including vertigo and osteoporosis, but has never let it stop them from getting away to experience diverse cultures.

Debbie avoids group tours because her limited mobility sometimes makes it difficult to keep up. She prefers finding a safe place to set up a “home base” that allows her to visit sites of interest at her own pace and on her own terms. “What we generally did was rent homes or apartments in the cities or regions we wanted to explore,” she says. 

There are reputable companies that not only maintain a roster of houses or apartments almost everywhere you would want to go, but also offer services to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Debbie explains, “They meet you at the airport, pick up your luggage, get you situated, and then provide a contact to call if you need help or a problem solved. On a trip to Morocco, I booked a car and driver through an agency. The agency devised an itinerary that I could negotiate with a walker.”

Debbie may be unusually intrepid, but she says she has never felt vulnerable as an older traveler. And even though she has had to seek medical attention in various countries, she reports nothing but positive experiences.

Free from the Cares of Home Ownership

NewBridge on the Charles residents Benita and Mike are nothing short of globetrotters. They’ve literally traveled around the world from Manitoba to see the polar bears, to Japan, New Zealand, Patagonia, the Amazon, Nepal, Bhutan, and most recently Morocco.

Benita points out how living at NewBridge supports their travel aspirations. “We were relatively young when we moved to NewBridge. We moved here with the notion that if you live in a house with property to take care of, it’s difficult to just pick up and go. It isn’t here — we close the door, tell property managers that we’re going away, and we’re off. It’s a liberating place to live in many ways.” 

Although their travel interests run toward places less traveled, Mike says, “We’re not ones to strap on backpacks and set out on our own. Our preferred mode of travel is with a small group, and we book through a company that arranges accommodations and guides.”

Benita adds, “There are places where you’re at a tremendous disadvantage if you’re not under some group umbrella. We’re careful travelers. We’ve been to India, which was wonderful, but it’s an example of a place where there are a lot of logistical issues that would be difficult to negotiate on your own.”

Benita and Mike also appreciate the social aspects of travel. “Lately we’ve taken to traveling with another couple that we met on an Antarctica trip,” says Benita. “We traveled together in Morocco, and we rented a car and driver together, which allowed us to explore from a different perspective.”

Get out and go!

Finally, Benita offers one big tip: “Do it while you can. Our neighbors who are no longer able to travel often say how they wish they’d done what we do. We have one of those wall maps of the world and have stuck pins where we’ve traveled. There are a lot, but not enough. At the bottom of the map is a line that reads, ‘Travel leaves you speechless, and makes you into a storyteller.’”

Looking for a lifestyle that supports flexibility?

If you’re ready to move to a community that offers worry-free living so you can travel without being concerned about what’s happening at home, Orchard Cove in Canton, MA, or NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA, might be the right choice for you. 

Both communities offer independent senior living, including a variety of apartment styles. When you’re not traveling, whether around the world or around the block, you can take advantage of a rich calendar of lifelong learning activities, cultural events, and fitness and wellness services. Interested in a tour? Explore our communities and the services they offer today.