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Recognizing the Benefits of Travel

For many of us, summer means traveling—either in-person (many people feel most comfortable getting on an airplane or train, even though COVID-19 infections are still an issue) or via armchair (for example, watching a great travelogue on TV or at your community center or library, or reading a good travel book). Whatever the case, it amazes me how much insight I can get into the way people live and what they value when I am able to view a culture other than my own.

Recently I returned from a tour of southern Iceland and the United Kingdom—specifically the Yorkshire Dales—where I visited friends from my neighborhood who moved there six years ago. Both countries are incredibly beautiful: Iceland is the land of volcanoes, waterfalls, and sheep, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park has miles of footpaths that take you through green pastures full of more sheep, surrounded by centuries-old rock walls that fit together masterfully without any mortar.

What I really noticed was the respectful way that people in these two countries treated each other, particularly older adults. Our Icelandic tour guide, Helgi, told us, “Sometimes people think Icelanders are rude because we don’t address dignitaries with ‘sir’ or ‘madam’; that’s because we believe all people have equal status and rights.”

Iceland has a very robust long-term care system for older adults although most live with family members as they age. I visited Grassington, a village of 1,000 people in the Yorkshire Dales where the PBS show “All Creatures Great and Small” is filmed. Grassington has a community center with lots of intergenerational programs, including one called “Helping Hands,” in which volunteers provide rides to older adults for doctor’s appointments, shopping or other errands. It’s similar to some programs here (for example, Volunteer Transportation).

I was reminded that, even thousands of miles from where I live, there are those with similar values who make efforts to ensure that all people have a good quality of life, especially as they age. It was a great way to spend two weeks this summer and gave me new insights to think about the rest of the year. I encourage you to try to see the world with a new lens sometime soon—either virtually or in-person!

Following are some travel resources that may interest you:

• AARP Travel—Tips, tools, and advice for older travelers
• Friendship Force of Greater Seattle—affiliated with Friendship Force International, a nonprofit cultural organization focused on promoting understanding, cultural education, and citizen diplomacy through homestays
• Habitat for Humanity Global Village—an international short-term volunteer program that builds or improves homes and addresses safety and livability across five continents
• Road Scholar—a nonprofit that provides educational travel programs primarily geared toward people age 50+ (formerly called Elderhostel)
• The Senior Nomads—Living Life and Loving Each Other, One Airbnb at a Time

Looking for a day trip or something closer to home? Contact your nearest senior activity center to see what they may have lined up. Some offer overnight, two-to-three-night, and longer travel opportunities.

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Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

This article appeared in the August 2024 issue of AgeWise King County.