Ageless Travel

A sulpture in Kröller-Müller Museumin Friesland, Netherlands

Kamala Venkatesh and her husband, Damoor, dreamed of a retirement filled with travel. The couple had emigrated from India to the San Diego area around the time Kamala was twenty years old. Together, they started a family, instilling a love for adventure and travel in their children. At fifty-four, Damoor planned to retire in four years, then he and his wife could jet-set across the globe together, enjoying their empty nest. Devastatingly, this did not happen. Damoor passed suddenly, leaving Kamala and their two children behind.

In the nearly thirty years since his passing, seventy-five-year-old Kamala has honored her husband by keeping her sense of adventure and logging it in her travel blog. She has become a talented nature photographer and advocate of the Dark Sky Movement. She has traveled the globe alone, with her family, and with other nature enthusiasts, experiencing full eclipses, blooming tulips, and meeting gracious liaisons around the world.

Driving through Germany countryside

Why travel is important

Travel is important at any age; it allows one to experience new cultures, engage the mind, etc. However, as individuals age, the importance becomes twofold, as it not only helps with mental well-being but also encourages physical health. Venketesh explains, “Travel opens up your perspective on how other people live and an appreciation for other cultures and people. [It] teaches one more understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. I always appreciate how people are so accepting of me and are helpful. It truly makes us all one, and differences fall away. And of course, the diverse landscapes, which I appreciate immensely due to my photography, I have also learned a great deal about myself-how resourceful I can be, my inhibitions fall off, and my strength and resilience — especially at my age.”

Physical Wellness

Kamala Venkatesh, atop the Alps at 9000 ft

Movement is medicine, and it can be all too easy to become stagnant in the home. According to the Journal of Medical Science Sports, adults over the age of sixty who were active, “are at a reduced risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, breast and prostate cancer, fractures, recurrent falls, ADL disability and functional limitation and cognitive decline, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.”

Travel gives the opportunity to older adults to walk, explore, and get out of their day-to-day life routine. A study by the Journal of Transportation and Health found that individuals who were not constrained in their ability to travel, both globally and locally, had reported better health than those who were more constricted. The study found that the population most impacted, both positively and negatively, were adults over the age of 55.

Mental Wellness

Mandi Merica, a Licensed Professional Therapist, explains, “Depression, isolation and grief are common experiences of aging adults. As people age, they often face grief related to the loss of friends and family members and also face the loss of autonomy or capabilities to do things they used to enjoy: sports, hobbies, and living independently. Some individuals respond to this grief and loss by furthering isolation and withdrawal from family, neighbors, and community. There can also be a sense of loss of control related to being unable to keep up with changing technology or other aspects of life.”

Travel can be a way to regain independence and a sense of self for those who are in the aging process. A study looking at aging adults in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that there was an increased rate of cognition among adults who traveled, with more growth the further they traveled from home.

This mental engagement could be partially due to living through new experiences and the stimulation of problem-solving. Venkatesh recounts, “ I have no problem talking to people. I go to foreign countries where I don’t know their language, which is a shame. But I do somehow make conversations. And so it has kind of set me free. The age has set me free, as has traveling alone.”

Venkatash tells stories of her travels and how they have helped push her from her comfort zone; such as attending a Catholic mass in Germany. As a practicing Hindu, Venkatash took advice from friends to check out an authentic Catholic service while visiting Germany. “ It was a beautiful mass, and everybody there was German. I was the only English-speaking person there. But, the priest sang a song in English. I was really flattered and felt really connected.”Such experience can help aging adults keep their minds from atrophying with the monotony of life. Merica explains, “Travel is great for people of all ages! It allows people to experience new environments, learn new things and be challenged in new and different ways. Travel also puts us out of our normal routines, and this disruption ensures older adults are cognitively flexible and adaptable. Many people hold special memories related to travel and vacations with loved ones, and having a chance to create memories with adult children, grandchildren, and siblings is a gift that all will remember.”

Who to Travel With

Travel can be both a chance to grow in independence, as well as a time to connect with loved ones or new friends. For seasoned travelers, there are many options on how to share the experience.

Alone

In the case of Venkatash, solo travel is the preferred option. While she has fond memories of traveling with her children or a group, her favorite memories are independent. “ I don’t have to get permission from somebody else, which is a nice advantage. I’m a photographer. So when I travel, I just stop anywhere I see good scenery, and I just take pictures. So I really prefer to travel alone if I can.” Venkatash does also mention that her children have asked her not to travel alone internationally after a bad fall she took.

Traveling alone can inspire a needed feeling of freedom and give the traveler autonomy to see what they want during their adventure.

Family

Traveling with a spouse or romantic partner can be a great way to reconnect after many years of being together. The new experience can be a bonding experience and grow the relationship stronger as it enters a new phase.

Jon and Cheryl Wells, of Leadville, Colorado have taken to international travel since their adult children have built lives and families of their own. Exploring from Iceland to Brazil has given them a closer connection and grander experiences. While they also traveled before children, the added resources and time with retirement have offered them more indulgences than they knew in their youth. With trips around the world, they are now able to take their time, traveling and sharing experiences without having to rush back to work.

Similarly, traveling with a sibling or one’s children can help an existing relationship evolve to accept all parties where they are in life. AARP recommends that parents and their adult children traveling together should spend some time together before the adventure and make sure needs are communicated clearly ahead of time to limit frustration.

Groups

For individuals, or couples, who want to relinquish some of the heavy-lifting when it comes to travel logistics, finding a tour can be a great way to see more sights with less planning.

Walking and Cycling Tours

There are numerous organizations which offer tours on wheel or foot catered to older adults who wish to see the countryside up-close. With the assistance of a SAG wagon to haul gear and offer rides for those who want to keep the miles shorter, the traveler can spend the day exploring a path or quiet road taking them to a new place.

Furthermore, the training for this type of travel can help adults stay active and engage in a hobby. Merica states, “Hobbies and other activities are vital for older adults. This allows them to remain connected with others, feel a sense of community and belonging in a social group, and also challenge the brain. Since isolation and loss of capacity to do things often happens as we age, finding new ways to connect with peers and get involved can combat the depression and anxiety that can come with these transitions. Engaging in hobbies and other activities also provides stimulation and can foster a sense of accomplishment and pride — a need that is generally met during our working years.”

While traveling in Iceland, the Wells enjoyed a three day hiking trip through the Hornstrandir nature reserve. Cheryl describes being taken out on a small boat before beginning the trip of remote hiking with up-close experiences with arctic foxes and puffins. While the couple has backpacked many miles in their lives, on this trip they had their gear shuttled along, allowing them to take their time and enjoy the 6-12 mile days of sight-seeing. She explains, “We stayed in campgrounds with a full-time ranger. The guide service had an established camp with a hut where we ate and the guide cooked.” For them, it was a perfect balance of adventure and security.

River and Ocean Cruises

Traveling by boat can be another great way for older adults to cover more ground without the stress of lining up transportation. Countries around the world offer this form of travel with many stops planned so individuals can choose how adventurous or leisurely they want to make their trip. Individual rooms also give travelers the option of being social or more reclusive, depending on their needs.

Bus Tours

Similar to cruises, a bus tour can take clients to more places while alleviating the stress of figuring out transportation and accommodations, while also seeing somewhere more landlocked. It might also be a more social experience as there is less space on a bus than may be found on a boat. While that might sound overwhelming, Merica explains, “Traveling in a group creates opportunities to meet new people and develop new relationships with peers, while feeling safe and comfortable. Traveling encourages physical activity and ensures people are moving about, walking around historical sites and moving their bodies. Traveling in social groups also sparks conversation and connection with others, which is good for mental and physical wellbeing.”

Tips

Know your amenities ahead of time

While an untethered twenty-something might thrive on the adrenaline of searching for a place stay last-minute, it is important to seek accommodations with needed amenities ahead of time. In the information age. It can be helpful to make reservations and know which places have internet, shuttles, or access to restaurants or grocery stores. The Wells mention the example of ice and freezers not always being as readily available in European countries as they are in the United States.

Share your itinerary with loved ones

Venkadash says she always shares her itinerary with her children before traveling. She explains that, when she fell on her trip in Germany and ended up spending several days in the hospital, her children were easily able to locate her. This practice can also be helpful as loved ones can participate in research and feel more engaged in the travel.

Invest in insurance

Another lesson Venkadash learned from her fall was how important travel insurance can be if disaster arises. Most major booking sites offer the option to purchase travel insurance which can save money if plans change and cancelations need to happen.

Move and stretch your legs

While crucial at any age, moving and stretching legs during long days of travel can mitigate the risk of blood clots. Setting an alarm to move every 90 minutes can help alleviate the risk.

Beware of theft

If keeping a travel blog or online presence during travel, try to keep a delay so as to not become a target. Similarly, investing in clothing with protective pockets can be a great way to prevent easy access.

While it can be easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of travel, packing, and exploration, the physical and mental benefits are many and can lead to an enriched and vibrant life. Venkatash is well aware of how crucial travel is to her quality of life. She tells of her time watching a total eclipse in Mexico witha Meet-up group through the Dark Sky Network. “The people in Mexico were just amazing. It was a small town called Concordia. People were friendly and, of course, the whole eclipse just kind of united everybody; we were all watching this same amazing phenomenon.” She refers to it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that all people, young and old, should try to live out. Venkatash is open about the joy and freedom travel has brought her in her later years, and encourages others to break free of fear and explore.