Travel Safety, Nutrition and Aging, and Managing Sequence-of-Returns Risk

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Travel in later life can be deeply rewarding — slower mornings, meaningful destinations, and the freedom to choose where you want to go next. But a little extra preparation can make all the difference between a relaxing trip and one filled with preventable stress.

Before you leave, check in with your doctor to make sure you’re cleared for travel and that your medications are up to date. Keep a few essentials — prescriptions, health information, and a change of clothes — in your carry-on rather than your checked bag. It’s also wise to bring a list of emergency contacts and a brief medical summary, just in case.

When choosing where to stay, look for accommodations that fit your comfort level. Elevators, ground-floor rooms, and good lighting can make travel much easier, especially after a long day of walking or sightseeing. Give yourself permission to slow the pace — plan fewer activities per day and schedule rest breaks so you can truly enjoy what you see instead of rushing through it.

If you’re traveling internationally or heading to a remote area, remember that Medicare and most U.S. health insurance plans don’t cover medical emergencies abroad. Travel insurance can fill that gap and cover everything from emergency evacuation to trip interruption. Hydration, movement, and awareness of your surroundings round out the basics — small habits that keep your trip running smoothly.

To explore travel insurance plans that protect your health and trip investment, visit Shield Knot Insurance Services for options designed with older travelers in mind.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — a well-planned trip is even better when shared.

“The Bicycle Ride Home”
From the life overview of Philip G., 81, Madison, WI. Shared with permission.

When I was sixteen, I rode my bicycle home every afternoon from the corner store, carrying either a load of groceries or a small pocketful of coins. The wind would tug at my hair while delivering the faint scent of fresh-cut grass and the distant smoke of someone’s backyard fire. The sun slanted low, casting long shadows from the elms that lined our street.

One day, I took a detour through the park. The path was muddy from last night’s rain, and leaves stuck to my tires. I almost tipped over on a slick patch of earth. However, I managed to catch myself, laughing at the absurdity of feeling both terrified and exhilarated at the same time. I paused on a little bridge, watching the creek ripple beneath me and sunlight glinting off the water. I felt a quiet happiness that I couldn’t have explained then.

Now, decades later, I ride again but slower, my knees reminding me that my youth has passed. The wind still tugs at my hair, and the smell of grass and earth continues to fill the air. Every turn of the pedals brings me back to that afternoon, that pause on the bridge, the thrill of being alive in a small, ordinary moment.

I’ve realized that some of life’s most lasting joys aren’t monumental; they’re found in the rhythm of simple movement—the pulse of air, sunlight glinting off water—and the memory of laughter carried along with it.

***

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Short Wave offers clear, engaging science stories in episodes that run about ten minutes. The show’s pacing and thoughtful explanations make it easy to learn something new without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

The Getty Museum: Online Exhibitions
These virtual exhibitions present carefully curated artworks, manuscripts, and historical objects with short, well-written commentaries. They provide a calm, museum-like experience at home, with enough depth to be enriching without requiring prior art knowledge.

Digital Bodleian
This online collection from the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University offers access to rare books, manuscripts, maps, and historical images. It’s well-organized and easy to browse, making it a steady, quiet way to explore centuries of material from home.

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Fall detection tools can give you extra peace of mind by automatically calling for help if your watch senses a hard fall. Many modern smartwatches include this feature, but it must be set up correctly to work. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you turn it on, customize it, and make sure it works the way you expect.

If you’re using an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone → “My Watch” → “Emergency SOS” → turn on “Fall Detection.” For a Samsung Galaxy Watch, open the Galaxy Wearable app → “Safety and emergency” → “Hard fall detection.” And for Fitbit, fall detection is currently available only on certain models (like Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4).

Once it’s on, make sure your emergency contacts are correct.

If your watch detects a fall, it will tap your wrist, sound an alert, and show a countdown. If you don’t respond, it will call emergency services automatically.

You can fine-tune these features if you’re comfortable with more detailed settings. Apple Watch lets you choose whether fall detection is always on or only during workouts. You can also add your medical information (allergies, medications, conditions) to your Medical ID so responders have it immediately.

Samsung Galaxy Watches offer high-sensitivity modes that trigger alerts for smaller impacts—useful if you have balance concerns. Fitbit includes “Get Help” options that can notify contacts even for non-fall emergencies.

A few tips help everything run reliably: keep your watch updated, make sure cellular or Wi-Fi calling is set up if needed, and check your emergency contacts twice a year. Once these settings are in place, your smartwatch becomes a quiet but dependable safety tool you can rely on every day.

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