Holiday Travel Tips for Traveling with Seniors
Help your elderly loved one enjoy the holidays without stressing about holiday traveling with quality senior care
The holiday season is a time for rejoicing with the ones we hold dearest, but for most of us, that means extended traveling to meet our families. And while traveling can be an exciting venture for us that don’t do it too often, it is often taxing, especially for our seniors. Much of what comes with traveling – searching for the best mode of transport and accompanying fares, busy schedules, and lodging – is too much of a stress for most seniors and is all the more reason why caring for your loved senior should be amongst the top of your priorities.
The very notion of traveling can seem overwhelming to seniors coping with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s because simple changes in routine can bring about greater than normal stress levels and anxiety. And they are not the only ones to experience that added frustration and stress. Most often we find that the caregivers who are traveling with the elder seniors take on this overwhelming anxiety, but there are certain steps you can take to help alleviate these holiday stresses and provide the best senior care.
First and foremost, the key to alleviating travel stress is to simply have a plan for travel. Not only is it important in keeping things in order when traveling but it helps keep the senior involved if it is gone over ahead of time. Writing up a schedule of travel and, most importantly, sharing it with your senior will help reduce some of the anxiety that comes with shifting travel plans. The next step in providing effective senior care when traveling is to get organized with the medication needed for your senior and any important documents that they need to have on their person, such as medical records, prescription instructions, or emergency contacts. Having a well-planned and organized task list when traveling will help you be at ease knowing that should any emergency situation arise your senior will be cared to properly.
The next thing you can do to ensure you are giving the best senior care while traveling is to simply as for help if needed. Ask about any special accommodations which could be given to seniors and persons with disabilities, as more often than not, airlines and other forms of transport will allow seniors to board first and help with any added baggage. Most hotels and restaurants will provide similar sorts of accommodations and even cater to special dietary needs your senior may have. Finally, remember to take your time. By rushing through your travel plans you are inevitably going to contribute to your senior’s discomfort and stress levels. Taking into considerations any potential hold ups and unforeseen situations will aide in providing an easy transition for your senior.
Holiday travel doesn’t have to be stressful, and these few steps will ensure you are providing the utmost care and support while traveling with your loved one this holiday season.
To learn more about senior care services from Visiting Angels, contact our Eldersburg, MD office today.