SENIOR
TRAVEL
TIPS
TRAVEL TIPS FOR SENIORS
PRE-TRIP PLANNING FOR SENIORS
PRE-TRIP MEDICAL CHECK-UPS
YOUR LUGGAGE
THINGS TO REMEMBER
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SENIOR TRAVEL
TIPS FOR A COMFORTABLE HEALTHY FLIGHT
TRAVEL TIPS FOR SENIORS LINKS
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SECTION 1
TRAVEL
TIPS
FOR
SENIORS
All travellers should plan carefully to
ensure their health and safety while away.
However, older people have a few extra
concerns.
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SECTION 2
PRE-TRIP
PLANNING
FOR
SENIORS
Suggestions include:
Consult with your travel agent for suggestions.
For example, many tour operators specialise in
accommodating the needs of travelling seniors.
Find out about the medical facilities in the
areas you will be visiting.
Research important factors such as climate,
language and culture. Buy a guide book and
read it before you go.
Make arrangements for wheelchairs, guide dogs
and seating needs well in advance.
Organise travel insurance with pre-existing
illness cover if needed.
If you are concerned about your health,
arrange to go on a package tour.
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SECTION 3
PRE-TRIP
MEDICAL
CHECK-UPS
Suggestions include:
Consult with your doctor for a complete medical
check-up. This is especially important if you
have coronary heart disease, hypertension or any
other chronic condition, or if you have recently
undergone surgery or experienced a heart attack.
Discuss any particular health concerns you may have,
such as dietary changes and the possible impact of
different eating habits on your specific condition.
People with diabetes will need medical advice on how
to safely stagger their medications to fit a different
time zone.
Consider having your flu and pneumonia vaccinations
before you go on your trip.
If you intend travelling to areas where infectious
diseases are present, make sure you are fully
vaccinated.
Visit your dentist for a check-up.
Visit any other healthcare providers you consult with
on a regular basis, such as your optometrist.
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SECTION 4
YOUR
LUGGAGE
Suggestions include:
Make sure your carry-on bag contains everything
you will need for the duration of the flight.
Include a medical kit in your carry-on bag. Items
to consider include regular medications, painkillers,
antacids and band-aids.
It might be a good idea to take along a pillbox with
compartments for different days of the week. Being
away from home (and your usual routine) could make
you more likely to forget to take your medication.
Pack a spare pair of glasses.
It may be easier if you use a suitcase with wheels.
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SECTION 5
THINGS
TO
REMEMBER
See your doctor for a complete check-up, particularly
if you have a chronic medical condition.
If you are taking large amounts of medication with you,
then you will need to take a letter of explanation from
your doctor.
Organise travel insurance with pre-existing illness cover
if needed.
If you are concerned about your health, arrange to go on
a package tour.
Travel tips for seniors
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Travel_tips_for_seniors
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SECTION 6
PRACTICAL
TIPS
FOR
SENIOR
TRAVEL
Traveling can be trying in the best of times
but when you are caregiving a senior while
traveling, you really need to be organized.
Check out these simple travel tips that could
help turn your next caregiving trip into a
win-win for all.
Returning from a recent trip across the country
had me thinking of the good old days when travel
was simpler. I was traveling alone this time but
I know the trials of being a caregiver to a senior
while using planes, trains and automobiles.
Over the years, I've tried to make my travel easier
by adhering to some guidelines I've picked up along
the way. Now that I am an official senior traveler
too (according to AARP), these tips became even more
valuable.
Here they are in no particular order:
Before you leave……
•Pre-planning is everything!
•Make extra copies of your itinerary and leave
it with a few different relatives or friends.
•Keep a list of all of your emergency contact
numbers, credit card numbers, physician info,
meds you are taking, etc. in a safe spot near
your passport.
•Research the weather before you go and pack
accordingly. Before my latest trip, I saw that
the San Diego weather was unusually hot (more
like New Jersey's), so I only took one long
pair of pants and one jacket.
•Stock up on your necessary medications ahead
of time. My insurance company requires that
routine meds be done via mail so this takes
some advanced planning to be sure you have
plenty. Another tip--be sure to bring a few
extra day's doses in case of flight delays or
schedule changes.
•If you or your companion have a pre-existing
medical condition that causes you worry when
you travel, you may want to research physicians
who participate in your insurance plan who are
in your travel area. In addition, think about
taking out traveler's insurance as an extra
protection.
While packing…….
•Use a pre-made packing list that you've
customized for yourself. Using this list
(mine is laminated), you never need to
worry about forgetting anything important.
•Don't overpack. Seriously! Not only will
this extra stuff cost you more if your
luggage exceeds the weight limits, but you
have to drag around that extra weight. Many
places have access to on site laundry or a
cleaning service.
•Organize your medications and other reminders
in those handy, see-through pill boxes so you
never need to wonder whether you took all your
daily medications. I also jam notes into the
slots for some of the days to remind me of
important things while I'm away, like "mail
electric bill" or "call Carol".
During your trip….
•Be smart and wear loose clothing and shoes.
Some people find that compression stockings
or socks help with circulation.
•Whether driving or flying, get up every hour
or so to stretch your legs. This will help you
improve your circulation and avoid stiffness.
•Stay hydrated by drinking fluids with water
being the best choice. Plane travel especially
can really deplete your fluids so stay ahead
of it.
On arrival……
•Begin acclimating to the new time zone and
weather gently. Some people find that the
abrupt changes in schedule can ruin the first
day or so of travel. Rest a bit when you
arrive but try to get yourself on the new
schedule as soon as possible without skipping
valuable sleep or meals.
•Be sure the excitement of visiting a new place
doesn't prevent you from keeping your hands
clean and germ-free. Bring a travel size hand
sanitizer or wipes for times when soap and water
is not available.
•Call all your contacts back home to let them
know you have arrived safely or better yet--call
one person at home who then calls the others for
you. If your schedule changes during your trip,
let others know as well.
And for the best travel tip I've ever heard but
haven't used…….
Pack your oldest, rattiest underwear and throw
them away daily during your trip. You will return
with a lighter suitcase and be greeted at home by
fresh, new underwear.
by Sue Lanza
Practical tips for senior travel
http://www.eldercarelink.com/Other-Resources/Caregiving/practical-tips-for-senior-travel.htm
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SECTION 7
TIPS
TO
HELP
SENIORS
HAVE
A
COMFORTABLE
AND
HEALTHY
FLIGHT
Seniors who travel by air know that flying can
be somewhat hard on the body. Long walks in
terminals, disrupted meal times and many hours
sitting in a closed, crowded environment can
make even the most well-planned trip feel
physically taxing.
This need not be the case. By taking a handful
of simple steps to prepare for plane travel,
seniors can ensure a more comfortable and
healthier flying experience.
Preflight Planning
For more pleasant senior travel, lighten
the load before you leave for the airport
by packing light. Check all baggage before
you board, taking a minimal amount through
airport security and onto the plane. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes. If possible,
request an aisle seat that allows for easy
access to the bathroom and allows you to
move about during the flight.
Airplane Travel Aids
Items like noise-reduction headphones and
a travel pillow can help create a more
restful environment, particularly on long
flights. Pack compression stockings in a
carry-on and slip them on after boarding
to help reduce the risk of blood clots.
Pack a nose-and-mouth guard or mask and
wear it in-flight to help reduce exposure
to infectious, airborne bacteria.
Food
Make sure to pack a snack bar or other foods
in anticipation of unexpected delays. Study
the in-flight meal schedule prior to boarding
and prepare accordingly. This is particularly
important if the senior is on medication or
needs to manage chronic health issues such as
diabetes. Likewise, purchase bottled water once
through security and keep it handy during the
flight to prevent dehydration and combat jet
lag.
Medication
Plan in advance when carrying medications
through security and onto the plane to avoid
having them confiscated. To do this, bring a
doctor’s note confirming any needed medication.
Also, prepare an in-flight medication schedule,
particularly if crossing multiple time zones,
to assure the right medicines are taken at the
right times. A pill organizer can help keep to
a schedule.
Taking these simple steps can make air travel less
taxing on the body, making the whole experience
more pleasant and leaving a senior in better shape
to enjoy the rest of his or her trip.
Tips to Help Seniors Have a Comfortable and Healthy Flight
http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/airline-travel-tips-seniors/
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SECTION 8
SENIOR
TRAVEL
TIPS
LINKS
10 Top Items For Senior Travel
http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/10-top-items-for-senior-travel/
50 plus Expeditions
http://www.50plusexpeditions.com
Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel
http://www.frommers.com
Eldercare link
http://www.eldercarelink.com/
ELDER EXPEDITIONS
http://www.elderexpeditions.com/
Elder Trav.com
http://www.ElderTrav.com
Elder Travelers.org
http://www.eldertravelers.org/
Elder Treks
http://www.eldertreks.com/
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Journey Woman.com
http://www.journeywoman.com
Over 50 And Overseas
http://www.over50andoverseas.com
Safety Tips For Seniors Who Travel
http://www.eldercarecafe.net/safety-tips-for-seniors-who-travel/
Shaw Guides.com
http://www.shawguides.com/
Six Savings Secrets for Senior Travel
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/senior-travel/six-savings-secrets-for-senior-travel
Smithsonian Journeys
http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/
Senior camping: On the road in retirement
https://www.camperdays.com/guide/camping-for-seniors
Seniors Holiday Travel
http://www.seniorsholidaytravel.com.au/
Seniors Go Travel
http://www.seniorsgotravel.com/
Senior related travel websites
http://www.seniorsomething.com/categories/travel/travel.html
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Senior Travel - Travel Safety
http://seniortravel.about.com/od/travelsafety/Senior_Travel_Travel_Safety.htm
Senior Women's Travel
http://www.poshnosh.com
Travel Alerts And Travel Warning
https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-alerts-and-travel-warnings
Travel tips for seniors
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Travel_tips_for_seniors
Travel with a Challenge web magazine
http://www.travelwithachallenge.com
Traveling with the Elderly
http://www.agingcare.com/elderly-traveling
Walking the World
http://www.walkingtheworld.com
Wired Seniors
http://www.wiredseniors.com
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