What do you love about being a trip escort at the Longmont Senior Center?

HELEN: I love traveling & am honored to have been asked to be an escort.

ALICE: I love being a trip escort as I meet new people on almost every trip, also I enjoy helping others that may need a little extra help getting around.

PAM: I meet a lot of different people and the vast majority are very appreciative of the work we all put forth to make the senior experience in Longmont enjoyable. Makes my life better to make other people laugh and make good memories.

SUE: I love meeting new people & making it possible for them to make connections with others & with places they may not have had the opportunity to visit or to enable them to visit venues to which they may no longer choose to drive to on their own.

FLORENCE: I enjoy meeting people and hope that we all have a good time together by me sharing my enthusiasm before and during the trip and that at the end of the trip everyone can say ‘ Boy, that was fun – we had such a good time – let’s do it again!’

MAURINE: Love meeting new people and doing what I can to help them enjoy their trip.

RUTH: I enjoy our customers very much. It is fun to get to know folks and meet over and meet them over on different trips. And, I would be dishonest if I didn’t say how much I enjoy getting to go places I might not get to otherwise.

Which has been your favorite trip to escort so far?

HELEN: I have been an escort for little over a year and my favorite trip was the fall Leadville train trip!

ALICE: My favorite trip to escort was a snow cat ride on Copper mountain

PAM: I honestly cannot say. I have been doing this for 12 years and have done some very interesting, fun and educational trips. I have seen and done so many things I would never have done on my own.

SUE: It’s hard to remember which trips I’ve escorted (because even before I was an escort people kept asking me questions about which way to head & what time to meet, etc.). My most recent memorable trip that I enjoyed escorting was to the Centennial Airport & the flight simulator with lunch at the runway afterwards so we could view planes taking off & landing.

FLORENCE: Visiting Leadville, Colorado and seeing the Horace Tabor Matchless Mine and Baby Doe Tabor’s last home, where newspapers lined the walls to keep the warmth in but unfortunately, she died in that cabin when she froze to death –

MAURINE: When I was driving the van/bus I was allowed to plan the “Leaf Peeping” trips to see the Fall foliage. So was driver/escort. Really a lot of fun.

RUTH: I loved getting to see Paula Poundstone in Ft. Collins.

What nugget of wisdom would you share for anyone going on their first Senior Center trip?

HELEN: Make sure you have read the trip details in the GO, even before you sign up! It is important to know the dress, shoes, expenses; whether or not there are elevation changes, stairs, uneven terrain etc. If these things aren’t spelled out in the GO, ask before you sign up!!

ALICE: I would advise any new person coming on a trip, to listen to the escort and to be flexible as things do not always go as planned.

PAM: Read the description of the trip in the Go Magazine very carefully. It may help to keep you from having a very unpleasant experience.

SUE: Read and absorb the information in the “GO” that specifies what is involved in the trip: times for check in/departure/return which should help you discern if you are up for the experience. ASK any questions you may have & OFFER suggestions for future trips.

FLORENCE: Read the description of the trip in the Go Book, ask the front desk people if you have any questions about the trip description before signing up – and then trust that your escort is looking forward to having a good time just like you and that every effort is made to ensure that we are all safe – and then we can all just have a good time!

MAURINE: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. All of us were “newbies” at one time and it can be a little intimidating in a large group to get all the info right. We are there to make sure everyone enjoys the adventures.

RUTH: Enjoy yourself, you can feel safe. Pay attention.

Why do you think travel and group trips are important?

HELEN: As we age, it is more difficult to drive distances & into cities. It is great to ‘leave the driving to him!’ Also great for socialization & for seeing/hearing new things!

ALICE: Travel and group trips allow for a social life that we all need, also it is the only way that a lot of seniors have to get out of their house.

PAM: Socialization is very important to a senior’s overall well being. This has been repeated over and over by doctors and psychologists. Take advantage of what the Senior Center has to offer. You will enjoy a better quality of life now and for years to come.

SUE: There’s nothing like a shared experience. It’s a casual time conducive to at least talking with people who may or may not think the same as you giving you a different perspective and perhaps a few good laughs together. It helps us to connect to each other which is very beneficial to maintaining good health.

FLORENCE: Everyone should experience the ‘joy of travel’ but sometimes you can’t afford it when you are young but now – we are all seniors and some of us are alone and we should support each other at this time in our lives and group together and enjoy life together!’

MAURINE: Helps new residents to the area learn about where they have decided to live, travel broadens (no pun intended) and we are all safer in a group. Get to make some new friends along the way.

RUTH: It is great that we have trips. People get to go places they might well never get to for many reasons: distance, uniqueness of a trip. Perhaps more importantly, it is great to leave the planning and driving to someone else, how much easier to enjoy without stress.

 

Longmont Senior Services arranges several local day trips, as well as extended and international travel. Our intrepid trip escorts accompany everything from restaurant outings to casino trips to lectures and performance arts programs. To register for day trips and extended travel, see the GO Catalog each quarter, and be sure to participate in the trip registration lottery. Details for the lottery can be found in the first few pages of the GO, or you can watch our handy how-to video on Youtube!