Senior Style: Travel tips for older adults
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Posted 5:01 PM 4/17/2012 : Senior Style: Travel tips and advice for seniors
TUCSON - Many of us are fortunate to be planning an upcoming vacation. Are there details you should consider if you are an older adult or perhaps traveling with an older adult? The U.S. Travel Association indicated that 36 percent of all leisure travelers are those 58 years of age and older taking more than 4 leisure trips each year; this represents a large portion of today's travelers.
Today on Senior Style, our senior living contributor Gale Morgan stopped by with some important advice for seniors planning to travel.
Below is information from her discussion with Allison:
Older adults generally defined at 55 and better represent a large portion of business and personal travelers. You may wonder if there are certain things someone in this group should do prior to a trip?
During planning and prior to departure:
- Have a conversation with your doctors before you go (especially if you have any health concerns)
Cornell University's Center for Aging and Research breaks it down it really well:
- run through your itinerary with your doctor...for example, hiking in the Swiss Alps may not be ideal for people with severe arthritis of the knees or hips; or people with advanced emphysema would want to avoid high altitudes such as the Rocky Mountains.
- talk to your doctor about your medical condition(s) and how travel may affect them; if you're concerned, ask your doctor! What impact will the change in climate, altitude have on you physically? Will you need special medications or preparations?
- Plan ahead -take enough of your medicines in their original bottles with you, as well as a list of your chronic medical problems.
- A lot of people go on vacation and they end up calling in for more refills. At best this is an inconvenience, at its worst it is life threatening! Generic medications may be difficult to get abroad.
- Also take the contact numbers for your physicians and health care providers.
- Make sure the immunizations you need are up-to-date based on your travel destination.
- Go to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website and they list it out and update it frequently.
- Chose your location wisely. Be sure the destination and location fit the vacation experience you are interested in.
- Family friendly may bring more noise and activity
- Is it close to attractions or do you need transportation.
Important things to consider during the travel
- Avoid alcohol while flying.
- This tends to dehydrate travelers, young and old. Dehydration is a major cause of confusion and other medical problems in older people.
- Stretch frequently if you're on a long plane ride.
- Long periods of immobility can be bad for your circulation. Flex your ankles and walk about the cabin periodically.
- Pace yourself.
- Try not to cram all of your tourism into too little time. One of the joys of being an older traveler is the luxury of time. Rest between major sightseeing jaunts and listen to your body if you're tired!
- Have a plan in case you get sick away from home.
In the States, academic medical centers (if one is nearby) are a good source of care when you do not know the local medical community. If you get sick while abroad, the U.S. consulate or embassy is a good place to think about getting a referral. If you have a particular medical problem and plan to be away for more than a week or two, ask your doctor about a referral to an appropriate specialist in that area.
Should older adults consider things like travel insurance, supplemental insurance...?
Travel insurance may be considered, especially if you've invested in an expensive trip and have some medical problems that could cause a last minute change of plans, it's a good investment. Talk to your travel agent about this.
And supplemental health insurance could be helpful if you travel abroad. In general, Medicare does not pay for medical services outside the U.S. Many supplemental policies offer this coverage. Consider buying one, if only temporarily, if your plan to be away for more than a short period.
