How to Travel with Seniors

If people could have it their way, most would want to explore the world while they’re young and at the prime of their health.

Realistically though, most people are financially able to travel only after they’ve sent their children to school and when they’ve paid off mortgages for their homes and cars.

My mom suffered from a stroke in 1993. She is now 68. I have traveled with her in the past couple of years to Bangkok, cities in the Philippines, Nevada, and California.

Common concerns among elderly travelers are their arthritis, low back pains, sugar and cholesterol levels, and high blood, among others.

• When booking your airline ticket, inform the agent that the elderly passenger needs a wheelchair. They find walking at a long distance and standing for a long time uncomfortable. With a wheelchair, not only will the elderly passenger and his/her companion avoid long queues at the airport, both of you will also be among the first to board.

• Request for either a vegetarian dish or a low calorie airline meal during booking or at least 24 hours prior to trip.

• Have them sit at the aisle. It’s more convenient to go in and out.

• Since you will assist them with their luggage, your carry-on bag and theirs should be lightweight with wheels.

• Stress is the number one cause of back pain so minimize air travel–related stress by getting to the airport early and slowing down.

• Visit physician to check if it’s all right for them to travel.

• Buy medicines for the duration of the trip. Your local physician’s prescription will not be honored in pharmacies overseas.

• Assist them with the toilet door. Sometimes, they can’t or don’t know how to pull back the toilet door. Stand outside so you can push it back for them.

• Bring their medicines and first aid kit all the time.

• Bring a blood pressure monitor to check their blood pressure daily.

• Have them wear cushioned sole shoes to absorb shock and friction and help ease the pain when walking.

• Order food for them at a fast food restaurant. They could sit down to reserve the table while you stand in line.

• Take the elevator or escalator when going up or down the metro station. Going up the stairs can be painful to their knees.

• When taking the bus, choose the front seats which are often allocated to elderly passengers. There’s more leg space and they’re closer to the door.

• When planning your trip, consider what time they wake up and how much time they need to prepare. They need to rest every now and then and they also walk slowly so give ample time. Choose places or activities which you can both enjoy like cruising, shopping, strolling at the park or botanical garden and going to the museum. If you need to cover more areas, you can, they can enjoy sightseeing while you’re away at a nearby coffee shop or bench at the park. Watching a cultural show or a play, going to a spa and discovering the city aboard a bus require less legwork.

• Orient them on how to use the mobile phone. They must carry a mobile phone so you can find or meet them when you split up.

• Keep them and the room warm. Although there is no significant number of researches that prove or show that cold weather is affecting people with arthritis, there is evidence that suggest there is some percentage of people who suffer more during the cold period. Bring extra jacket to protect them from the cold during winter season.

At first you might think traveling with seniors can be a hassle but come to think of it, we were all once kids and our parents were the ones who had to look after us during trips.

Traveling with seniors is a great way to reconnect, to share stories, memories and laughter and to spend time together.

Photo of senior tourists in Como, Italy, by nadiO

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About the author

Amanda Balneg is a freelance Travel Writer and Spanish Translator. She is currently based in Manila but she travels most of the time. She has stayed in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Arizona, Salamanca, Avila, Madrid, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok. She sees beauty in diversity.