Tips For Mindful Travels With Aging Loved Ones

This is a busy travel time for families across the country and people of all ages.

Travel can be one of the greatest gifts a child or caregiver can give to a senior, but there are important things to remember that can help make things go smoothly.

Here are some great considerations for traveling with a senior or to share with elderly loved ones who may be traveling this holiday season.

Arrange medication management Most older adults take five or more medications once or even several times a day. Those working on planes or trains aren’t responsible for the medical dosing of your loved one. But you can ask in advance that at a specific time, the staff reminds them to take their medication. If this isn’t possible, provide your loved one with an alarm watch or set an alarm on their cell phone.

Rental cars If you’re renting a car, Avis Access will provide scooter rentals, transfer boards, hand controls, spinner knobs and other devices to help with access and usability. If you have a disability parking pass from the U.S., bring it to different countries. Be sure to place it on your dashboard instead of on your rearview mirror.

Know the warning signsLearn to recognize warning signs of anxiety and irritation. If your loved one is getting uncomfortable, remove him or her from the situation. Find a quiet place and have them calm down.

Plan for security checkpoints If your loved one is in a wheelchair, access through TSA at the airport may be faster than you think. Inform your loved one about medical conditions that set off alarms, such as surgical hip and knee implants. To avoid unwanted delays, get a physician’s statement about the about the implanted steel and make sure the senior has documentation.

Consider tours and cruises These unique trip options offer services that are planned, operated and staffed to deliver the promised program and destination discovery. Specific tours even cater to those with special needs and disabilities.

Ensure those at the destination are preparedIf your loved one is traveling alone, schedule a telephone conference with your relatives to go over the caregiving support plan. Make sure to communicate your approach, so your relatives don’t take it upon themselves to take over.

Let your relatives know about your loved one’s favorite foods and activities so they can feel at home. Also, get your relatives up to speed on medication requirements.

We recently shared some tips for traveling with elderly loved ones for family caregivers who may be traveling with seniors or even if you have an aging loved one who has plans to travel alone and you’d like to provide them with some helpful pointers.

Families looking for senior care help and support for a loved one this season and beyond can turn to our BrightStar team for help through our “Healthy for the Holidays” program.

Whether you’re caring for a loved one and need some respite or a senior in your life has advancing needs and would be a good candidate for home care and support, our team is available 24/7 to help by coming up with a home care solution that is custom tailored to your loved one’s needs.

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