10 Tips To Remember When Travelling With Elders
Travelling with elders can pose a challenge, especially as they may have mobility or health issues that cannot be ignored. Thoughtful planning is required to ensure that senior citizens travel safely and comfortably.
Considerations like comfortable seat selection, airport assistance, early check-in, senior citizen travel insurance and medical arrangements need to be made in advance.
Read on to learn 10 effective ways to ensure that elders travelling with you have a smooth and enjoyable experience.
10 Tips to Help You Plan a Trip with Elders
1. Ensure All Medications are Packed
It is highly likely that elders travelling with you are on medication. Therefore, carry sufficient medicines for the entire trip. Also, carry necessary medical records if required. Pack medicines for common illnesses such as fever, diarrhoea, cold, vomiting, etc.
2. Travel Insurance Plan is a Must
The importance of this cannot be undermined, especially for senior citizens. With travel insurance India, elders can be at peace that their needs will be covered when travelling overseas.
Policies like Tata AIG senior citizen travel insurance policy specifically cater to the requirements, be it medical or other travel-related issues, of elderly citizens. This type of assistance is much required when ageing individuals are planning a trip abroad.
3. Plan the Entire Trip Beforehand
It might not be the best idea to plan a vacation with senior citizens that involves a lot of walking or relentless sightseeing. Planning beforehand is not only beneficial for young travellers but for the elderly as well.
Chalk out the entire vacation plan, including resources and transportation options that will be available wherever you go. And, do not forget to purchase a travel policy for everyone on the trip, including elderly family members.
4. Select an Appropriate Holiday Destination
A good start would be opting for one of the visa on arrival countries for Indians. This way, you can avoid going through the visa application process, which can otherwise be exhausting for senior citizens.
Again, make sure that the culture and climate of the destination are agreeable to elders. It is also crucial to ensure that healthcare facilities and tourist attractions are easily accessible.
5. Opt for Agreeable Accommodation
Select accommodations that can be easily accessed. Moreover, the rooms should be designed to be senior-friendly with amenities like non-slip surfaces and grab bars for the safety and comfort of your elderly family members.
6. Make Considerations for Wheelchair Facility
If your ageing family members have a disability or health issue that prevents them from standing for long, you should opt for a wheelchair facility at the airport. Make sure that the place for accommodation provides wheelchair ramps, and if possible opt for ground floor accommodation.
7. Facilitate Easier Communication
One of the important travel tips for senior citizens when travelling abroad is to ensure good communication with other travelling family members. You should make sure that the communication device is fully charged before travelling. A
Additionally, provide your elderly parents with a list containing phone numbers of essential contacts and local emergency numbers.
8. Cater to Nutritional and Hydration Requirements
While travel insurance can help with medical emergencies, you have to take every measure to prevent any unnecessary medical situation for your elderly relative. Keep them hydrated all through the journey, and carry extra water bottles if necessary. Also, pack some healthy snacks for the trip like nuts and seeds, provided they are not allergic to such food.
9. Follow Dietary Regulations
Senior citizens should get access to a healthy and balanced diet during the journey, especially if it is long. Apart from this, if there are dietary restrictions because of health conditions, you have to ensure that their food is prepared accordingly. You can avail healthier food options while booking your flight, as many airlines offer this option nowadays.
10. Choose Proper Footwear and Outfits
While packing for the trip, take into account the weather conditions so that your ageing travel companion does not suffer physically by wearing the wrong clothes. For example, if you are travelling in the summer season, pack outfits that breathe and are lightweight. The same rule applies to the choice of footwear as well.
Conclusion
When travelling with senior citizens, it is your responsibility to make sure that they take breaks time and again, for proper rest. It can be exhausting for senior citizens to travel anywhere.
Their chances of getting sick increases with age. That is why, senior citizens should take all necessary precautions, including senior citizen travel insurance policy, before travelling overseas.
Using these tips you can provide a relaxing and comfortable vacation for your elderly loved ones.
