Vacationing with your Elderly Loved Ones

With all of the major holidays over, it’s likely that you’ll be traveling with your elderly loved ones. Traveling with the elderly can seem like a daunting task, but there are two things to remember: plan ahead and allow yourself extra time.

Plan ahead! Call the airport, train station, or bus station before you and your elderly depart. Find out what information they’ll need to get through security, what things they can and can’t bring with them, and any additional physician documentation you may need. Don’t wait until the last minute to pack, and set up a packing scheduling for your elderly loved ones. It’s never a good idea to rush through packing.

Secondly, figure out how much time you think it will take you and your elderly loved one to get from your home to your seats on the plane, train or bus. Now, take that number, and add at least an hour. Chances are, you will hit some sort of obstacle. There may be a large line at the airport, you could forget your tickets and have to get them reprinted, or there may just be traffic getting to your location. Rushing will only make your traveling experience more stressful, so give yourself a break with extra time.

Here are some great resources for you to look at before setting out on your journey:

AgingCare.com: Traveling with the Elderly

New York Times: Flying Tips for Older Passengers

USA Today: Travel Tips for the Elderly

Finding the Flu Shot

As we discussed in our previous post, the flu virus is incredibly serious for the elderly. The elderly are especially susceptible to the flu, and they can develop serious complications if they contract it. Furthermore, for elderly people with pre-existing conditions, the flu can be an incredibly dangerous virus to come in contact with because of conditions can develop as a result of it.

You can find a flu vaccine clinic through Flu Near You:  https://flunearyou.org/

Flu Outbreak is Incredibly Dangerous for the Elderly

In Massachusetts, the Mayor of Boston has declared the flu outbreak a public health emergency. According to the release, there have been 700 cases of the flu since October. This is ten times the number of individuals diagnosed with the flu at this time last year. Sadly, the release goes on to say that all four of the individuals who have passed away because of the flu were elderly.

For the elderly population, the flu is incredibly dangerous. Often times, senior communities and elder care facilities will have to quarantine their residents during an outbreak. The reason the flu is so dangerous is because they are at a much higher risk for flu related complications. Anyone over 65 is considered in the high risk category because the immune system weakens with age. Additionally, individuals with chronic illnesses are also considered to be at a higher risk for complications. Many elderly individuals are also dealing with chronic illnesses, so this puts many of them at an incredibly high risk. When these high risk individuals develop the flu, it can result in serious complications such as:

 - Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Respiratory infections
- Respiratory failure
- Death

The best defense against the flu is the vaccine. Encourage anyone you know who is over 65 to get the vaccine. Additionally, early recognition of flu symptoms in any elderly loved ones is one of the best ways to prevent complications. If your elderly loved one starts complaining of the following symptoms, they may be developing the flu.

 - Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat

If your elderly loved one starts experiencing these symptoms, contact their doctor immediately. Aside from complications from the flu, colds in general can cause dehydration. Be sure to keep your elderly loved one hydrated with drinks and nutritious soups.

If you are a caregiver or interact with any elderly on a regular basis, be sure to follow several precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the flu.

- Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly
- Keep your hands away from your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth
- Cover your moth when coughing
- Avoid any friends who may be suffering from the flu

If you want more information about the flu, take a look at the CDC’s website dedicated to the Seasonal Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Happy New Year, from Long Term Solutions

With the New Year comes new resolutions, and we think that one of the most important things a caregiver can do is to commit more time to themselves. If you are a caregiver, resolve to spend five minutes a day to yourself. You don't have to resolve to journal more, commit to working out more, but just dedicate five minutes to yourself. This act will help you remember your own needs in caregiving, and it will help tremendously with caregiver burnout.

That being said, we would like to wish all of our friends, family, and all of our supports a very Happy New Year!