Tips for Traveling with your Aging Parents
Having aging parents shouldn’t stop you from traveling with them. In fact, multi-generational travel offers benefits that weren’t available when you were younger. Seniors are likely to have more accessible free time and more money than when they were younger. But as your parents get older, new logistical considerations must be made before travel. The key to traveling with seniors is to prepare in well in advance. Here are a few tips to follow to make sure your trip goes smoothly:
- Plan for everything: When traveling with seniors, anything can happen and it is good to be prepared. Seniors tend to have a laundry list of things they need to bring with, so prepare well in advance. Start with medical clearance. Check with a medical professional to see if your parent is healthy enough to be traveling. Don’t forget medications and medical paperwork, as that may come in handy. For air travel, consider longer connection times and arranging ground transport at the airport for added convenience.
- Find a trip for everyone – Arranging a vacation that has activities for everyone is crucial. Constantly doing everything as a family can cause unneeded pressure and tension in your group. People should be able to decide to do their own thing. Appealing to everyone’s needs is easy when everyone in the group is around the same age, but this is not always the case. Find a trip where everyone will be happy.
- Consider mobility – Just because you can walk all 18 holes of golf, doesn’t mean that your dad still can. When planning activities for your vacation, consider what your parents can handle. If they require a wheelchair, make sure you do your research on wheelchair accessibility.
- Scheduling – Be sure to plan some downtime and to not overpack your schedule. Traveling is exhausting even when you are young, imagine when you get older! Don’t forget that your parents might move at a slower pace and may need more bathroom breaks. Don’t rush them and simply enjoy the moment.
Traveling with aging parents may seem exhausting, but is definitely worth the effort. This vacation will create memories that you and your parent will remember forever. With a little preparation, this trip can go smoothly. For more information about traveling with your aging parents, contact Autumn Pointe Assisted Living. Our professionals have years of experience and know the special care seniors require. To learn more about Autumn Pointe Assisted Living, please visit our website or give us a call at 402-468-4700.