Elderly Explorer George Hood, accompanied by his faithful companion 'Otto', is living an exciting life and prospering through old age.
George Hood, a 78-year-old resident of Crestview Hills, has embarked on a lifelong journey of adventure and learning. His story is a testament to the positive impact of lifelong learning and travel on the happiness and health of aging adults.
Hood, a native of Rochester, New York, attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa before transferring to the University of Rochester to pursue his passion for psychology. After a successful career that saw him retire twice - first in April of 2000 and fully in August of 2009 - Hood has dedicated his golden years to exploring the world and giving back to his community.
Hood's adventurous spirit was ignited during his childhood trips with his parents and exposure to international cultures. In June of 1972, he embarked on an open-ended road trip in his Volkswagen Beetle without a specific plan. However, the journey was cut short due to Hurricane Agnes.
Despite the early end to his first adventure, Hood's love for travel remained undimmed. He has since taken approximately 53 or 54 trips since April of 2000, including a visit to Northern Michigan for a Family Bash in the next two weeks and a week at Penn State University Park attending lectures with university professors and learning about astronomy, meteorology, and material science.
Hood's commitment to adventure is not limited to travel. He is a member of the Mariemont Theatre and the First United Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, where he volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood. He also enjoys peaceful walks, visiting the Mercantile Library or Art Museum in Cincinnati.
Hood's adventurous lifestyle has earned him recognition. He won a national contest organized by Road Scholar as part of the Age Adventurously Day campaign, pocketing $1,500 as the winner. Road Scholar, a non-profit world leader in educational travel for older adults, has been Hood's partner in his journey for the last 25 years.
Road Scholar's recent report, based on a survey of 300 adults aged 50 to 98, reveals that 94% of older adults who embrace adventurous activities report higher levels of well-being. The report emphasizes that adventure enriches both physical health and emotional happiness, and that the desire for new experiences tends to grow with age.
Hood, a lifelong learner, combines travel with studying languages and volunteer work, maintaining both mental and physical activity, which supports thriving in older age. Road Scholar offers organized senior travel opportunities that reduce stress by managing logistics and promote social connection and cultural immersion, further enhancing wellbeing.
In the coming months, Hood plans to explore the Detroit Institute of Arts and learn about Henry Ford's legacy at the Eleanor and Edsel Ford Estate in October. He is also set to donate some of his fossils collection to the University of Rochester.
Hood's current project is to declutter his condo. Yet, even in this mundane task, Hood finds adventure. "Every item has a story," he says, "and every story is a part of my journey."
Road Scholar's research supports that adventurous activities are key drivers of improved happiness and health in aging populations by fostering engagement, curiosity, learning, and social involvement. This evidence is part of their broader advocacy for "aging adventurously," which they celebrate annually with “Age Adventurously Day” to encourage older adults to embrace new experiences at any age.
[1] Road Scholar. (2021). Age Adventurously Report. [online] Available at: https://www.roadscholar.org/content/age-adventurously-report [Accessed 12 May 2023].
[2] Road Scholar. (2021). The Adventurous Lifelong Learner. [online] Available at: https://www.roadscholar.org/content/the-adventurous-lifelong-learner [Accessed 12 May 2023].
[3] Road Scholar. (2021). Senior Travel with Road Scholar. [online] Available at: https://www.roadscholar.org/content/senior-travel-road-scholar [Accessed 12 May 2023].
[4] Road Scholar. (2021). The Impact of Adventure on Aging Adults. [online] Available at: https://www.roadscholar.org/content/the-impact-of-adventure-on-aging-adults [Accessed 12 May 2023].
- George Hood, a resident of Cincinnati, specifically in Crestview Hills, originates from Rochester, New York, but he now considers Northern Kentucky his home.
- Hood's love for the arts is evident as he is a member of the Mariemont Theatre in Cincinnati.
- He is also involved in the cultural community, volunteering at the First United Unitarian Church in Cincinnati.
- His passion for education extends to the home-and-garden sector, as he plans to declutter his condo, finding adventure even in the mundane task.
- Hood's dedication to education-and-self-development can be seen in his studies of languages and his volunteer work.
- Beyond Kentucky, Hood enjoys traveling, with Road Scholar, a leader in educational travel for older adults, being his partner for the past 25 years.
- Hood's adventure-travel and cultural-travel have led him to places like Penn State University Park and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
- Budget-travel is not a concern for Hood, as he won $1,500 in a national contest organized by Road Scholar.
- As a proponent of personal-growth, Hood believes that every item in his condo has a story, making it a part of his lifelong journey of adventure and learning.
