Aging Well | Travel is Good for Your Health

The Art of Aging Well - Travel!

Senior group travel is often seen as a “reward” for years of hard work and is something that most of us look forward to. Escorted group tours is an easy and fulfilling way to embark on a new adventure that allows us to experience new cultures, see new things, and meet new people. It keeps us from falling into the rut of mediocrity because travel makes our golden years more interesting. What most people don’t realize is that travel is not only good for the soul, it is a pathway for healthy aging. The Global Coalition on Aging has found that there is a profound connection between travel and healthy aging.

1) Mentally Active

One of the many benefits of senior travel is that it allows us to stay mentally active. Whether you travel near or far, travel increases creativity and knowledge by exposing us to new cultures, experiences, and geography. Science has found that travel stimulates the brain by creating new neural pathways that “exercise” the brain preventing cognitive decline.  According to Dr. Paul Nussbaum, Ph.D., ABPP, president and founder of the Brain Health Center, Inc., “Because it challenges the brain with new and different experiences and environments, travel is an important behavior that promotes brain health and builds brain resilience across the lifespan. 

2) Physically Fit

Being “on the go,” meeting new people, and participating in new leisure activities helps keep seniors physically fit. Studies have shown that older adults who are physically active have lower rates of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, lower risk of falling, and better cognitive function. One study found that women who vacationed every six years or less had a significantly higher risk of developing a heart attack or coronary death compared to women who vacationed at least twice a year. Similarly, another study showed that men who did not take an annual vacation had a 20 percent higher risk of death and a 30 percent greater risk of death from heart disease. 

ToD’s Senior Travel Tips Interview

3) Senses

Another key benefit of senior travel is that it helps us rediscover the world. Travel helps us change things up by pushing us out of our comfort zone to experience something new. Whether you are walking down a cobblestone street in Europe or visiting one of America’s great National Parks, travel has the added benefit of keeping our minds open to new things.

4) Less Stress | More Fun

Traveling with a small group tour where your sightseeing, meals, and accommodations are taken care of by a professional team of travel professionals takes the stress out of traveling.  One of the best things about group travel is that everyone is on the same itinerary, making the entire experience run smoothly. Another important aspect is that when you travel on a small group tour, you are not traveling alone; rather you are traveling with like-minded people with similar interests. In addition, group travel is more cost-effective and often includes destinations not ordinarily accessible to individual travelers booking a trip on their own.

5) Learn New Things

Travel can be incredibly worthwhile, especially for seniors. Whether it is a day trip or a two-week adventure, a vacation can be a life-changing and life-prolonging experience. A new place can teach you something new about the world and about yourself and keep your mentally and physically fit. What’s on your travel bucket list this year?