Elder Care: Tips for Traveling With the Elderly
Aging shouldn't keep your elders from traveling and interacting with the world at large if they still have the capacity and drive to do so.
Travel can be an exciting experience for them, but it takes a great deal of organization.
Complications you would never think of can arise.
Something as simple as jet lag could pose a major problem since it takes many elderly twice as long to recover from it.
So, the key is to plan ahead.
After discussing every possible detail together, make a list that includes all of the supplies, medications, and other items that are needed for the trip.
Buy what's needed before the trip, since shopping at their destination can often prove difficult.
Always check for senior and/or handicapped discounts, and consider traveling midweek or off-season.
State bureaus of tourism, state parks, historical societies, and local chambers of commerce are all excellent sources of travel information, but you must be very specific regarding any special needs your elder might have.
The more specific you are, the more accurate the information you will receive.
A Bed and Breakfast will often have a room that can accommodate a special needs person, including wheelchair-accessible shower stalls.
It's also quite common for your elder to be invited to family gatherings or special events.
This can be both a joy and a challenge, especially if the event is at a distance.
One of my clients was invited to a wedding, a surprise birthday for her sister three months later, and a family reunion six months after that.
These invitations produced a lot of anxiety for her, and meant a lot of work on my part for her to enjoy a stress-free time with family and friends.
We made our lists for each event - all supplies, medications, and other items that would be needed, including purchases such as new outfits or gifts.
Gifts were always sent in advance, even if they were checks.
I checked out the transportation and the hotels, and her aide went with her to all three events.
Everything went as planned, and I asked family members at each event to supply us with pictures.
When the pictures arrived, we put them into an album, so she could talk about the events with friends, and have a nice memento for the future.
Travel can be an exciting experience for them, but it takes a great deal of organization.
Complications you would never think of can arise.
Something as simple as jet lag could pose a major problem since it takes many elderly twice as long to recover from it.
So, the key is to plan ahead.
After discussing every possible detail together, make a list that includes all of the supplies, medications, and other items that are needed for the trip.
Buy what's needed before the trip, since shopping at their destination can often prove difficult.
Always check for senior and/or handicapped discounts, and consider traveling midweek or off-season.
State bureaus of tourism, state parks, historical societies, and local chambers of commerce are all excellent sources of travel information, but you must be very specific regarding any special needs your elder might have.
The more specific you are, the more accurate the information you will receive.
A Bed and Breakfast will often have a room that can accommodate a special needs person, including wheelchair-accessible shower stalls.
It's also quite common for your elder to be invited to family gatherings or special events.
This can be both a joy and a challenge, especially if the event is at a distance.
One of my clients was invited to a wedding, a surprise birthday for her sister three months later, and a family reunion six months after that.
These invitations produced a lot of anxiety for her, and meant a lot of work on my part for her to enjoy a stress-free time with family and friends.
We made our lists for each event - all supplies, medications, and other items that would be needed, including purchases such as new outfits or gifts.
Gifts were always sent in advance, even if they were checks.
I checked out the transportation and the hotels, and her aide went with her to all three events.
Everything went as planned, and I asked family members at each event to supply us with pictures.
When the pictures arrived, we put them into an album, so she could talk about the events with friends, and have a nice memento for the future.