For many seniors, traveling for family reunions and celebrations is an exciting part of summer. However, with luggage, itineraries and a million other little things to keep track of, it can also be stressful if they set out unprepared.
Is your loved one planning on hitting the road soon? Use this checklist and some of our favorite summer travel tips for seniors to help them get organized so they can enjoy their adventures stress-free.
What Senior Travelers Should Bring
Here are some of the most important things for senior travelers to take with them. This isn’t a definitive list: You’ll need to adjust depending on factors like your loved one’s needs, where they’re going and how long they’ll be gone. However, it’s a great starting point for most trips.
- Medications. It goes without saying that seniors (and all travelers) should bring their medications with them. Keep in mind, they also might need help taking them due to the shift in routine – especially if you’ve changed time zones. Give them a hand by reminding them when it’s time to take their medications. Make sure to pack enough doses for the entire trip, plus a few days in case there’s a delay.
- Copies of important documents. Your loved one may need more than their ID, passport or visa. Consider bringing documents like a medication list, allergy list, or their doctor’s name and contact number.
- Physical maps. Google Maps is an incredible tool, but it falls short when you go too far afield or your battery runs out. As a backup, make sure to bring printed maps of everywhere you expect to go. AAA is a great source for maps of locations all around the world, and they’ve got branches in Charlotte and Huntersville.
- A travel safety kit. This should include standard first aid items like bandages, antibiotic ointment and medical tape. It’s also helpful to include over-the-counter medicines like mild painkillers, gas-relief tablets and antacids. Visit the Tyvola Senior Center for help assembling one.
- Flavor packets for water. Seniors often have trouble drinking enough water in the summer, especially if it tastes different than they’re used to. Flavor packets can help mask the mineral taste of unfamiliar tap water and incentivize drinking more.
- A stock of favorite snacks. Seniors may have very specific meal schedules, so it’s important to work with them to make sure they get enough food. If meals don’t line up with times your loved one is hungry, keeping some of their favorite snacks on hand at all times can be a lifesaver. Snacks can also help them with medications that need to be taken with food.
- A money belt. These are most important if you’re heading somewhere known for pickpockets, but they’re also a great way to avoid losing essentials, no matter where you’re going.
- Comfortable shoes. These are always important while traveling, more so the more walking you plan to do. Luckily, Charlotte has plenty of shops you can trust to help:
- To find something that fits perfectly, stop at Good Feet Store or Clarks.
- For athletic shoes (as well as cool summer clothes), try Run For Your Life or Charlotte Running Company.
- If your loved one has joint or mobility problems, consider taking them to a specialty store. Fleet Feet can conduct a gait analysis to find the best shoe for their feet, while Comfort Footworks has a range of orthopedic options.
- Other essentials like:
- Your loved one’s health insurance card
- An extra pair of glasses or contacts
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sun hat
- Additional hearing aid batteries
- An umbrella, rain jacket and poncho
- A sweater or light jacket (if they’re going somewhere cooler, or if they get cold frequently)
- International power adaptors (if they’ll be traveling abroad)
- Compression socks
- An eye mask
Get Help with Travel From a Professional Caregiver
If your loved one could use extra help during a trip, the expert caregivers from FirstLight Home Care of Charlotte are here for you. They’ll help with sticking to important routines while providing the support needed to make the most of any vacation.
Heading outside of Charlotte? We’re connected to a nationwide network of home care agencies and may be able to help you secure care at your destination.
Contact us today to learn more about how our caregivers can make this summer the adventure of a lifetime.