Taking a trip with an elderly loved one is a great way to spend some quality time together and create memories that will last the both of you until the end of your days. However, as people get older, it often gets harder and more complicated to go on trips. But luckily, with your help and a little planning, you can have a great trip with your loved one regardless of their age.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for planning a trip with your elderly loved one.
Don’t Pack Your Days
While you might like the idea of fitting as much as you can into your travels, if you’re taking a trip with someone who’s a little older, you’re going to want to be sure that you leave enough time for everyone to get the rest that they need.
Usually, older people can’t push themselves as hard as they could when they were younger. This means that while they might have been able to do multiple activities in a day before, this isn’t such a good idea now. So if there are certain things that you want to do on your travels, make sure you give yourselves some time to rest and recuperate before taking on another adventure.
Think Through Potential Medical Emergencies
Even if your loved one is currently living on their own and isn’t moved into an assisted living facility yet, there is still a chance that they could have some kind of medical emergency come up during your travels. Knowing this, you’ll want to be prepared for the most likely occurrences.
If you know your elderly loved one is taking medication for a specific medical issue, make sure you know what medication they’re taking and what you should do if something should go wrong with this medical problem. You should also know where to get medical assistance if it’s needed and consider getting approval from their doctor before going on the trip.
Plan For Rest Days After The Big Travel Days
If you’re going to be traveling far to your destination, it’s important that you plan to have entire rest days after the big travel days are done. Especially if you’re going to be spending the majority of the day traveling or are going to jump a few different time zones, planning to have a down day after the traveling has concluded will give your loved one a chance to get their body and their mind back in shape so they can actually enjoy their trip with you.
If you’re wanting to take a trip with your elderly loved one, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you plan a safe and fun trip together.