Hosting a high school exchange student is a unique opportunity to welcome a young person from another country into your home, allowing you to share your culture and build a meaningful relationship. Due to the bonds formed during this experience, host parents often consider their exchange student a “son” or “daughter,” making this an excellent opportunity for retirees, senior citizens, and empty nesters, in particular—a way to breathe a little bit of young, international life into a quiet home. If you’re retired, you may be asking yourself, “Can retirees host an exchange student?” Below, we’ll answer this question and break down who can host an exchange student in more detail.
Can retirees host an exchange student?
The short answer is YES, retirees can host an exchange student. Retirees who host an exchange student must meet the same requirements to be eligible, but as long as they do, they’re free to host!
Benefits of hosting an exchange student in retirement
Regardless of employment status or age, hosting an exchange student is an incredible chance to expand your cultural horizons, impact a foreign student’s life, and build a lifelong relationship with them. Senior citizens who are retired may enjoy even more benefits hosting international students, including:
- Fill a quiet home: Many retired couples, single individuals, and empty nesters live alone in their homes during retirement. Hosting an exchange student is an excellent opportunity to fill your home with an enthusiastic young person and build a new cross-cultural relationship. As the retired Flynn couple said, “You really come to love your host students as your own kids.”
- Create future travel opportunities: Many people choose to travel more during their retirement. Hosting an exchange student is a great way to cultivate relationships with people who live around the world in countries you’re interested in traveling to. After you host them at your home in the United States, you’ll have all the more reason to travel to their home and reconnect.
If you’re unable to travel, hosting an exchange student is the perfect way to learn about and enjoy a new culture without leaving your home!
Learn more about the Flynn’s experience hosting a foreign exchange student as a retired couple:
Who can host a high school exchange student?
Just as there is no “typical” American family, there is no “typical” host parent(s). Host parents come in all shapes and sizes, including young married couples, retired couples, and single individuals.
Is there an age limit to hosting an exchange student?
While you must be at least 25 years of age to host an exchange student, there is no upper limit. As long as you can take on the hosting responsibilities and meet the other host parent requirements, you can host an exchange student!
What are the requirements for retirees to host exchange students?
The requirements to host an exchange student as a retiree are no different than any other host family. Requirements include:
- 25 years of age or older (no problem for seniors!)
- Live within the Local Coordinator’s service area
- Able to provide daily meals (breakfast and dinner), their own bed, and board
- Host parents must provide transportation to and from school if no school buses are available
Host parents are also expected to provide a loving home where the exchange student is treated as a new family member. For retirees who want a little extra light in their lives, this requirement is no problem—gaining a new family member is a major reason for hosting!
Host an exchange student with AYA
Academic Year in America (AYA) is a non-profit organization that connects enthusiastic international high school students with host parents who are ready to welcome them into their homes. In addition to matching host parents and exchange students, we offer valuable 24/7 support from professionals at our national office and our on-the-ground Local Coordinators, who are ready to assist you throughout your entire hosting experience.
Are you a retiree who wants to host an international exchange student? AYA is here to help!
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