Audacious Senior Citizens Get Involved in the Shared Economy

By Darrell Griffin

46 creative and engaging ideas for senior citizens to participate in the sharing economy. These ideas are designed to inspire seniors to use their unique skills and experiences to create opportunities for work, social interaction, and community engagement. From carpooling concierge services to starting a memory lane podcast, the possibilities are endless for seniors willing to think outside the box and embrace the sharing economy. Certainly! Here’s a list of 46 over-the-top ways for audacious, active senior citizens to dive into the sharing economy:

  • Home Swap Holidays: Travel the world by swapping homes with other seniors. There are a number of online sites that specialize in people wanting to exchange houses. Some specialize in worldwide exchanges, US exchanges and more local exchanges.  I personally know people that have done this for a number of years and keep doing it so it must work for them. 
  • Gourmet Garden Parties: Host dining experiences in your backyard. You probably need to have a pretty awesome yard to make this a success. 
  • Wisdom Workshops: Teach skills from your life’s work in online classes.
  • Pet Paradise: Offer luxury pet-sitting services.
  • Boomer BnB: Turn your spare room into a bed and breakfast for fellow boomers.
  • Senior Skill Share: Exchange services like gardening, tutoring, or home repairs.
  • Yacht Timeshare: Co-own a yacht and sail the seas with peers.
  • Culinary Caravan: Start a traveling pop-up kitchen in an RV.
  • Fashion Forward: Rent out high-end vintage clothing and accessories
  • Artisanal Adventures: Sell homemade crafts or foods in online marketplaces.
  • Retiree Roadshow: Organize a traveling exhibition of collectibles or antiques.
  • Luxury Lectures: Host talks or seminars in your living room.
  • Elderly eSports: Create a gaming group to compete in online tournaments.
  • Senior Social Club: Use your home as a venue for exclusive club meetings.
  • Memory Lane Museum: Rent out space for exhibits of historical memorabilia.
  • Boat-and-Breakfast: Offer a stay on your boat with a meal included.
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  • Adventure Gear Rental: Rent out your outdoor equipment for expeditions.
  • Grandparent Go-Karts: Set up a go-kart experience for grandparents and grandkids.
  • Heritage Homestay: Provide a cultural exchange experience right at home.
  • Virtual Reality Travel Guide: Offer virtual tours of exotic locations using VR technology.
  • Senior Citizen eSports Coach: Teach and coach video gaming to individuals or teams.
  • Memory Lane Storyteller: Record audio books or podcasts sharing tales from your past.
  • Drone Photography Assistant: Help photographers by piloting drones to capture aerial shots.
  • Retirement Transition Specialist: Guide those new to retirement through the lifestyle change.
  • Upcycling Etxper: Teach classes on how to repurpose old items into new treasures.
  • Personal Historian: Help people document their family history and genealogy.
  • Senior Fitness Bootcamp: Organize outdoor fitness activities tailored to seniors.
  • Wisdom Consultant: Offer advice sessions based on life experiences.
  • Hobbyist Matchmaker: Connect people with similar hobbies or interests.
  • Urban Gardening Advisor: Teach city dwellers how to grow food in small spaces.
  • Cultural Exchange Host: Pair seniors with international students for cultural exchanges.
  • Life Celebration Planner: Help plan unique celebrations of life for those who have passed.
  • Elderly Pet Care: Specialize in pet sitting for older pets with special needs.
  • Senior Dance Instructor: Teach dance classes focused on styles from your youth.
  • Antique Restoration Workshop: Lead workshops on restoring and preserving antiques.
  • Legacy Videographer: Create legacy videos for families to capture their stories.
  • Retiree Business Mentor: Use your business acumen to mentor young entrepreneurs.
  • Crafting for a Cause: Organize crafting sessions to create items for charity.
  • Time-Travel Tourist: Host themed events or tours based on different historical periods.
  • Auto sharing. Most of us notice our car sits in the garage most of the time. It never gets used, or at least very seldom. The share group can have a shared utility auto for the day-to-day trips. Maybe share a boat and/or a travel van. 
  • Vintage Vehicle Ventures: Rent out classic cars for events or photoshoots.     
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These ideas aim to empower seniors to share their knowledge, connect with others, and find purposeful engagement in the sharing economy. Each one opens up a new avenue for income, learning, and community involvement.