Travelling and the well-being of the elderly: expectations and risks

Abstract

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of tourist travel for the well-being of older people by identifying some of the psycho-sociological components of their decision-making processes in the context of nursing homes and the family, with reference to the values and difficulties that may either motivate or affect them. Given the trend towards an increase in the percentage of the elderly population in our societies, and with the anthropological, sociological and ethical questions that this raises, it is very important to consider crucial aspects in contemporary research, especially those related to their well-being, including leisure travel. The practical component of this study is part of a qualitative research methodology, which before taking the existence of social facts for granted, aims to understand the participants’ perceptions of the world.