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