The Freebird Club is a community based on a web platform allowing elderly people stay in someone’s houses. The system operates as an international club based on travel with a careful selection. On the one hand there are the hosts, on the other the guests. The hosts put at disposal one/more rooms inside their houses for the guests who can come to their house and sleep there. The amount to pay is specified on the system.
The idea comes from an Irish man, the 46 year-old Dubliner Peter Mangan.Once you are a member of The Freebird Club, guests can not only look for places they would like to visit in dates that suit them, but also have a look at the various hosts’ profiles, being able to ideally find a member with similar interests, stay at his/her house, in a location they like. The members of The Freebird Club are encouraged to meet by travelling from house to house. The guests can experiment a new place through the eyes of the locals, by staying in a comfortable environment.

These stays have the particularity that the owner of the house is always there, as The Freebird Club’s concept is not only to appreciate the accommodation but also the company between host and guest. It is a new way of travelling for old independent travellers, a new way to exploit the value of houses, by gaining money and, what is more important, it is a fun and accessible system to foster the meeting between people who think in a similar way and who appreciate the company of other people, even at a later age.
The system also increases the self-esteem and well-being of elderly people who travel autonomously and socialise.
The Freebird Club deals with two of the most significant problems that distinguish our society, characterized by demographic ageing: 1. Loneliness and isolation of old adults 2. Financial insecurity at a later age, due to inadequate pensions. The mission of The Freebird Club is to put in communication and enrich the lives of elderly people with interesting travels.

Photo: Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images