The holidays are a busy time of year for travel. Families travel near and far to spend time with their loved ones. As fun as extend travel sounds, it can be a stressful and overwhelming time, especially for elederly family members. The difficulties that come from travel, like busy roads, delayed flights, changing plans, crowds, and searching for accommodations adds strain to any type of travel.
If you’re traveling with a family member who suffers from diseases, such as Dementia or Alzheimers, be aware that travel may trigger fear and anxiety due to changes in their routine.
Whether you’ve traveled with an elderly person before or you’re traveling with an elderly person for the first time, there are ways to eliminate some of the stress associated with travel.
Before booking your plane tickets, seniors should schedule an appointment with their primary care physician to see if their body is in good enough condition to travel long distances. This should especially be done if they’ve had a recent surgery/procedure or they suffer from hypertension, heart disease or other chronic illnesses. As the body gets older it becomes susceptible disease. If traveling internationally, their doctor can recommend any location-specific vaccines. Lastly, discuss any medications that they’re taking, and reup on medicines that they will need while traveling.
Creating a plan before traveling with your elderly family members is very important. As we stated earlier, if your loved one suffers from Dementia or Alzheimers, disruption in their routine can trigger anxiety. Take the time to write up a travel plan that includes a schedule and talk it over with your family member. By doing this you can minimize any travel related stress/anxiety.
After you book your flight, check-in with the airline you’re flying with to see if they offer any additional services for seniors. Some airlines have special services to offer that can help with the chaotic security and boarding process.
If you’ve recently been on a trip with an elderly loved-one and noticed signs that they might be slipping–mentally, or needs more help than you can provide when it comes to care, contact Oasis Senior Advisors for assistance.
We offer resources for seniors and their families, as well as support and guidance every step of the way so you can feel confident in your loved-ones’ future. Deciding to make a move to a long-term care community is an emotional, financial, and physically taxing process, and you don’t have to do it alone.
