Tag: travel

The Benefits of Travel for Older Adults

It is getting to be that time of the year; the travel season in the northern hemisphere is almost in full swing. With warmer weather comes the desire to get out and see the world–nearby and further away.

Last year when I turned 60, my aunt (who is in her 80s) told me that the 60s are the years to travel. As she explained it, the kids have already launched, (and therefore) more money is usually available, and serious health issues hopefully have not started to crop up yet. My wife (who is 9 years younger than I) and I have decided to make the most of this decade, understanding that nothing is ever guaranteed. My mom’s motto could have been “Life is uncertain; eat dessert first.” In other words, take opportunities when they present themselves because they may not reappear. Unfortunately, too many people save up for their “golden years” to travel or engage in new adventures or hobbies, but by the time they retire they do not have the capability to really enjoy these things.

The National Institutes of Health and many other organizations have studied the benefits of travel for seniors. Among the findings were “that travel has a beneficial long-term health effect. Travel within the last two years reduced the risk of death by 36.6%…. The more trips taken, the lower the risk of death. An increase in the number of trips was associated with a 13.6% reduction in the risk of death.” Sounds like more fun than exercising and eating healthy, right?

Some of the other benefits that travel can provide for seniors according to Outlook Retirement are:

  1. Rejuvenation and Active Lifestyle. Traveling often involves walking, sightseeing, and trying new things. These help to give us a “breath of fresh air” and encourage physical activity.
  2. Social Connections and Personal Growth. Traveling allows us to meet new people and interact in different ways with others we may know already. This is especially true for group travel. Additionally, being exposed to new places, cultures, foods, etc., helps to broaden our perspective and challenges our ways of thinking about the world.
  3. Cognitive and Memory Boost. Being in a new environment, having to navigate unfamiliar territory, and even learning a few words in a foreign language all have healthy benefits for the brain. One of the ways that we build and strengthen neural pathways is by problem-solving. The stimulation of the brain in these ways can also help with memory.
  4. Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being. There is an expression in Hebrew, “change your place, change your luck.” What this really means is that being in a different place can get us out of our ruts. Getting out of our everyday patterns can reduce stress and help us understand ourselves and others more clearly. Depending on where we travel, we can also see stunning vistas, great human accomplishments, or even just beautiful sunsets that can help us to appreciate the world around us.
  5. Lifelong Learning and Cultural Enrichment. Being in new places can expose us to new ideas. We can also explore museums, galleries, neighborhoods, historical monuments, etc., that add to our knowledge of the world and history. Learning about other cultures can also deepen our understanding of diversity and ourselves.

Not everyone has the means to travel abroad, but much of this applies to places that can be no more than a few hours drive or train ride away from home. I have lived in Cleveland for less than six years and I am still discovering new neighborhoods, museums, and parks. Getting out and seeing the world is fun. We also know that it has serious benefits–health and otherwise–for older adults. Let’s hit the road!

You Are Free to Roam About the Cabin

With November right around the corner, we enter into a heavy travel season: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s. Travel will be brisk this year as the pandemic has been (mostly) tamed and folks are feeling more confident about taking longer trips to see loved ones.

Many of my clients do quite a bit of air travel–some of it long-haul–and they have asked me about the best exercises to do while on a long flight to prevent problems. The number one issue of concern is DVT (deep vein thrombosis); this is when a blood clot forms deep inside the body (very often in the legs) and it is more likely to occur when we sit for long periods of time. The clot can move throughout the body and cause serious health issues.

In-flight exercises–in addition to plenty of water–can help prevent DVT. What are the recommendations–especially given how tight space is on most airliners?

  1. If you are able to get up and walk around (after the “fasten seat belt” sign has been turned off!) that is a great idea. This is more difficult in narrow-body planes, but you can carefully stand in place and look to see if the aisles are crowded or if in-flight service is in progresss. If the coast is clear, take a stroll. On wide-body jets with two aisle, it may be possible to do a big lap around the plane. Do this as often as feasible.
  2. Exercises that can be done while seated include: ankle rotations (lift your foot of the floor and rotate your ankle); “quick feet” (running in place tapping either heels or toes quickly on the floor–alternating sides); calf raises (lifting heels up and then lowering them); leg extensions (straighten alternating legs so the foot comes off the floor); knee-ins (bring both knees or one at a time up to the chest and hold with hands); glute squeezes (clench those butt cheeks together); forward bends (lean forward as far as you can bringing your head down). Upper body exercises include shoulder rolls, elbow flexes (like a bicep curl without weights), and punches (don’t hit the back of the seat in front of you).
  3. There are also many stretches that can be done while seated–both dynamic (active) and isometric (holding a stretch still).

A simple internet search will turn up lots of exercises to keep moving during the flight. Just make sure that whatever you do is in compliance with crew member instructions–and be aware of those seated around you who might be affected (ie, poked in the eye) if you are not careful.

Finally, these exercises work on long car, bus, and train rides as well. If you are the driver, make sure to stop with regularity in order to walk around and do some of these exercises as well. It goes without saying (I hope) that you should find a safe place to do this like a parking lot in a gas or EV charging station, or a rest area. The side of the road is more dangerous than a DVT.

I hope these tips help. Bon voyage!