Being a caregiver for an elderly parent and planning a vacation don’t have to be overwhelming. When you want to take your senior mother or father on a trip with you, there are certain things you need to be aware of, but it isn’t stressful if you know what to do. Keep reading for a guide on what you should plan for and think about regarding your senior for travelling.

One of the most important things you can do is get the help of a professional. You can hire senior care services to help with caring for your parent while you plan the vacation. They will also help with planning, and taking your senior parent’s needs into consideration. Some services even offer to travel with your elderly loved one to be at their side during the entire trip.

Pre-Trip Planning

The first thing you should do is take your mother or father to their doctor for a full checkup. If your parent has any type of heart disease, hypertension or another chronic condition, this is particularly important. Here are some other steps you should take before going on the trip:

• How might the different food choices available where you’re going affect your parent’s health?
• If your senior parent has diabetes, find out how to stagger their medication to line up with another time zone during the trip
• Check that your parent is fully vaccinated against diseases that might be present in the country you’re going to
• Have a dentist checkup
• Visit any other health related professionals, such as the optometrist

Travel Safety

There are many things you should be aware of while on your trip, and it can be hard to keep track of everything. Here are some of the most important items to think about while planning and during your vacation. You should make sure to include your professional caregiver on these decisions, as well.

• Some medications are illegal in other countries, so make sure your parent can still take the medication they need where they are going
• Make sure you have a medical kit with your carry-on with anything your mother or father might need as far as medication, painkillers, antacids, etc.
• Have an extra pair of glasses for them
• Using a suitcase with wheels can make things easier during the trip
• Taking a pillbox with the medication divided into certain days of the week can help remind you and your parent to keep on time with the pills
• Allow yourself and your parent extra time to recover from jet lag and the stress of the journey there
• Avoid street vendors and any foods that might look questionable; you don’t want food poisoning to ruin your trip