7 Travel Tips for Aging Loved Ones

As a loved one begins to age, travel can become a challenge for them. If you live in close proximity to them, travel might not be as much of a challenge but even car rides can be taxing. We wanted to compile a list of tips for aging loved ones to help make travel as easy as possible.

1. Create a full list of all health issues and medications being taken.

It is important to note that traveling with an aging loved one can often require emergency visits or medical needs to be addressed while traveling. If you have a full list of the different medications and health conditions, it will help the out-of-state doctor make the proper diagnosis.

2. Ask their doctor if the believe travel is medically good decision.

If your parent has been struggling with aging or has certain medical conditions, always run travel by their physician. The doctor might see medical conditions that can cause travel issues that you might not have considered. If their blood pressure can change dramatically, air travel might increase the possibility of falls which makes traveling by automobile the better decision.

3. Consider their stay accommodations – even if its at a family member’s home.

It can be a common occurrence during the holidays for an out-of-town family member to want your aging loved one to stay with them while they travel. However, if their house requires your aging loved one to go up and downstairs constantly, don’t hesitate to put them into better stay accommodations.

4. Plan ahead to cover all needs and eliminate heavy luggage.

It is a common challenge for everybody to overpack when departing for travel. If you are helping an aging loved one pack, try to map out their outfits for each day and plan for any issues that could need more clothes. The lighter you can make the baggage, the easier it will be on them to transport their luggage.

5. Plan travel times around your loved ones best performing parts of the day.

If you have noticed that a loved one is starting to experience Sundown Syndrome where they become confused in the late evenings, try to avoid making that your time of travel. If they seem to do really well in the early morning, try to plan your travel during that time.

6. As a caregiver, mentally prepare yourself for moving slower.

If you are accompanying your aging loved one on the trip, you should know not to overextend the number of activities you would normally do each day. Your loved one might require more rest or more time in between sights.

7. If your loved one travels frequently, consider TSA PreCheck.

If your aging loved one travels regularly by themselves or visits an out of town relative often, consider getting them on TSA PreCheck. It will help them avoid having to stand in long lines that can be painful or removing shoes (which can lead to falls). The easier you can get them through security, the better.