Travel Tips For Seniors
To Stay Safe And Healthy
Traveling can be fun and exciting or stressful and
aggravating. In addition to the usual stresses of plane delays and lost baggage, seniors have health considerations
to keep in mind as well. In order to have the best trip possible, you may want to keep these senior travel tips in
mind.
First of all, discuss your plans with your doctor first.
Make sure you are medically cleared to fly or travel by car for extended periods. Being in a confined position for
several hours can trigger the formation of blood clots, so if you have certain medical conditions, your doctor may
not recommend you fly. If you do fly, whether you have a history of blood clots or not, you should stand up and
walk the aisle on a regular basis. When traveling by car, stop and walk around every few hours. Your doctor may
suggest wearing compression stockings while traveling to further prevent the formation of blood clots.
When you are cleared to travel, it is time to thoroughly plan your trip. One of the
most important travel tips for seniors is to not leave things up to chance. Plan your trip down to the last detail
and consider alternatives in case the unexpected happens. You can't control plane delays and having to switch
flights at the last minute, but if you have prepared well in advance, you can handle the unexpected when it arises.
If you are traveling abroad, having access to travel alerts of your destination can be of tremendous
help. Seniors often have problems with memory and cognition and easily get flustered when faced with sudden
decisions. This can cause you to make poor judgment calls or become over anxious and stressed. Knowing what to do
in advance will make your trip a smoother one no matter what happens along the way.
Another of the important travel tips for seniors is to keep your medications
accessible. Don't put them in checked luggage because if your luggage gets lost, you may not be able to take your
medications for days. Carry your medications with you on the plane. Make sure each bottle is properly labeled
especially if you take controlled substances or they may not make it past security. Be sure you have plenty to last
until you return home. If a prescription will run out in the middle of your vacation, discuss with your pharmacist
how you will handle the situation. Your pharmacist may fill your prescription early or advise you on how to fill it
at your destination.
In addition to your medication, you want to keep important documents on your person
when traveling. Put the ones you will use frequently, such as ID and plane tickets, in an easily accessible place
along with a small amount of money. That way they can be found easily without fumbling. Keep large bills and credit
cards out of site in a secure location on your body but away from the items you need to access often.
Make arrangements in advance for any special needs you have while traveling. Don't
cause undo stress and strain by rushing from plane to plane. Arrange for wheelchair or cart transportation at the
airport so you can be taken where you need to go without worry. If you need help getting on and off the plane or
need special accommodations on the plane, the time to make that known is when you buy the tickets, not the day you
plan to travel. That way, everything will be in place when you arrive and your trip should go smoother.
Remember to take care of your health while traveling. It is easy to get caught up in
the excitement and overlook things such as drinking enough water and keeping warm. Seniors become dehydrated quite
easily and this can lead to confusion and dizziness. The older you get, the harder it is to tolerate cold weather
too, especially if you are coming from a warm climate to a cold one. Cold weather further dehydrates you so be sure
to drink water often when traveling. Take your medications on time and wear loose fitting clothes so no part of
your body is constricted for long periods.
One of the joys of retirement is the ability to travel whenever you feel like it.
Seniors fly all around the globe as they visit fun filled destinations and family members. By taking good care of
your health and following some wise travel tips that keep you safe, you can help ensure you have a great trip
rather than one that is filled with stress and worry.
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