When overwhelmed with the powerful feelings of curiosity, excitement and restlessness tangled together before a journey… don’t forget that you’re traveling with your dear parents who are old enough to be taken care of. What are the things to expect and be ready for? How to help the seniors to enjoy the trip as fully as you do? Let’s take a close look to that.
Keep up with the medication regime
According to some real-life situations, the elderly usually experience discomfort when flying, voyaging, or just taking a lengthy car ride. To illustrate, the airport complexity with all the registration requirements, security check, and luggage hand-over may not only fatigue the senior citizens but also cause health issues. As such, they suffer from aches in the limbs and backbone, fuzziness of vision, or headaches.
Medicinal Tips
To prevent diseases, getting appropriate vaccinations before a long journey is highly encouraged. It will be beyond useful to also ask a doctor to determine whether vaccines are necessary to be received for the countries you consider visiting. It has to be simultaneously taken into account that the seniors have to keep up with their regular medication treatment during the trip. Make sure to buy the drugs a couple of days prior, stocking up in case of delays or – even worse – flight cancellations.
With age comes some benefits
Seize the chance to give less for your senior parents, while saving money for souvenirs (or public toilet charges)! Stay curious about the discounts they might offer for the fare (up to 30%), depending on location. They are occasionally available for senior travelers, so it’s worth asking the airline, hotel, cruise or even car rental companies directly about them.
Share up-to-date innovations
Technology is undoubtedly loved and cherished by people of many ages, including the elderly too! Teach them some tips on how to use helpful apps like Google Translate, XE Currency, or LiveTrekker – a newly designed digital diary that pins their favorite moments and places on a map. Those will surely make the trip more entertaining and easier when you’re away for some reason. Besides, it will make them feel special if you devote your time to explain them something “we all know”.
Enjoy the time fully
When aging, people naturally become less active, they need more time to digest food, rest and walk the same distance you do. Though, they don’t lose their desire to learn something new, discover new places and relax there, nor, of course, they want to lose touch with their children and be a burden to them. Be yourself around your senior parents, but don’t forget that now it may be your turn to take care of them. Choose destinations that are easy to orient in and that are senior-friendly. Live the moment, no matter how many times you’ll have to stop for a bathroom, because these people won’t stay with you forever!