Travelling with Seniors: Complete Guide

Travelling with Seniors: Complete Guide - MalaysiaCaregiving Support

Travelling with Seniors: Complete Guide

Traveling with seniors can be quite a handful. This complete guide can help you better prepare for upcoming trips with your ageing parents.

Travelling with Ageing Parents: Complete Guide

Travelling is a hobby and passion for people who enjoy the idea of adventure and encountering new experiences. In the following years after the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on travel, more are eager to step foot in other places, be it interstate or internationally.

Nonetheless, travelling with ageing parents may be a challenge. In this article, we will look into some concerns and tips that can be helpful for you and your family.

Does Age Affect Travelling?

Age is a factor to consider when travelling. Not so much about one’s number, but the conditions or state of health that a person might be in. In general, the elderly and young children are considered high-risk groups.

For instance, seniors are more likely to contract illness during a trip compared to younger groups. This is due to lowered immune system(natural wear and tear due to age)or pre-existing conditions such asdiabetesor obesity. With this, planning is required in advance in order to ensure that there are fewer barriers to travelling. It is also important to check your elderly’s fitness levels to suit your travel itinerary and curb disappointment.

Preparation for Seniors Before Travelling

It is best to be prepared in order to enjoy a holiday you would like to remember than to end up with an experience you wish to forget. These are some preparation tips for seniors before travelling:

  • Go for a health assessment.Some countries may require a senior to take a vaccine or booster jab. You may wish to get your seniors checked with your healthcare provider around 2 months before departure as it will take time for the vaccine’s effect to take place. Not only that, it is vital to assess pre-existing conditions(if any)and their severity. Importantly, you can get the doctor to write a letter on your parents’ medical history to be brought during your travels, in case of any needs. This can allow other medical practitioners to note any ongoing treatment or allergies.

  • Prepare a medication kit.Ranging from medication and supplements, ensure that you have packed sufficiently for your ageing parents. Some people may opt to use a medication kit that is separated by type or day. This kit should be placed in an accessible compartment.

  • Be active.Even the simplest form of travelling will require some walking and moving about. As such, it is advisable to get moving prior to the trip, so that your body is able to better adapt to the travelling changes.

  • Assess your insurance coverage.Travel insurance is often separately bought from life or medical insurance. This should be an expected cost of the trip and should not be skipped. Travel insurance can be useful in situationslike below:

  • A need to cancel the trip

  • Missed or delayed departure due to unforeseen circumstances

  • Emergencies

  • Injury and death

  • Lost, stolen and damaged items

Depending on the frequency of travel, you may consider an annual travel policy instead of a one-travel policy.

  • Travel itinerary.Choose places and accommodations that are suitable in terms of accessibility, energy levels, expectations and interest. You can also request ground-floor rooms at your accommodation if necessary. This will allow all participants to enjoy the holiday together.
  • Contact your credit card company.Some expenses may be paid via card or online banking. Notify your branch in advance so the card will not be frozen in view of unusual activity.

Travel has diversified in a few forms. Nonetheless, we can identify three types: land, sea and air. With this, there may be different means to navigate the situation. What is crucial to each transportation mode during travel is:

  • Sufficient documents

If you are travelling internationally, this entails having your passport, visa and other necessary documents. You may wish to have a printout or an electronic copy for convenience and precautionary measures. Transportation tickets can also be printed or collected accordingly.

  • Consider motion sickness

While elderly people are less likely to be susceptible to motion sickness, it is good to be prepared. Be sure to have some pills on the go as some get the feeling if they lack sleep, food or other unexpected matters.

  • Senior citizen priority

Most transportation centres will have a priority lane or someone to attend to them. This can be useful when boarding or leaving the transport. In addition, this ensures that they are in less danger of being knocked or pushed in congested transport areas.

During Travelling

Be sure to keep yourself healthy as well. During travelling, make room for changes in the itinerary in case of early tiredness from the day’s program.

These are some tips that you can utilise during travelling:

  • Rest time.This is especially important if there are cases of jet lag and long travel hours.

  • Send your luggage ahead of time.This can permit easier walks through your station or the airport, without lugging additional weight everywhere. This can save you time in the customs department.

  • Be wary of free Wi-Fi.It is useful for worldwide access, but avoid making bank transactions or other private details when you are using it.This is because you may not know if it is a legitimate free Wi-Fi, or someone may take the information at hand.

  • Check for senior discounts.Most places of attraction will offer a discount to seniors. You may enquire with the ticket master in charge for more information.

  • Consider using anti-theft bags.Some thieves may choose to target the elderly, assuming them to be easy targets. Either conceal where you put your belongings or carry a fake wallet in case of need. Safety should be prioritised.

  • Reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).The risk of the development of blood clots in the veins of the legs can occur in persons with heart disease, obesity or sitting still for long periods of time. As such, ensure your ageing parents are wearing loose clothing, taking a stroll(if possible)in the transportation or performing foot stretches and exercises while seated. Drink sufficient fluids to avoid dehydration.

  • Purchase bottled water.If you are not sure of the water safety or quality in the place of travel, purchase bottled water even though it may be more expensive.

  • Reduce the risk of food poisoning.You can do this by avoiding food buffets, seafood, raw or undercooked meat, and goods from street vendors. Falling ill during the trip will turn the holiday into one filled with worries and pain.

Post-Travelling

There are still some things that you can do after returning from a holiday. Here are some suggestions:

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