Senior Travel: Proven Safety Tips
Karl Edmunds, Security - Home and Personal, SENIOR LIVING, Travel |
Travel Tips and Tricks
:: by Karl Edmunds ::
Think about the travel destination you have yearned for your whole life. Now imagine the stars have lined up and you are ready to take flight. If you want the reality of your trip to be as good as the one you have imagined in your mind, then take the time to plan carefully to ensure your safety and health. This is imperative for everyone, especially seniors.
Before you go…
- Consult your travel agent to fully understand health risks in the specific areas you will be staying. Verify the travel agent and/or tour guide you selected has proven experience dealing with the unique needs of seniors especially if you intend a foreign destination.
- Determine the availability of travel insurance and verify that any pre-existing illnesses you have will be covered under the policy. Then check to see if there are good medical care and facilities at your travel destination.
- Be clear about climate, language and culture and prepare both physically and mentally before you go.
- Will you need a mobility scooter or wheelchair, guide dog, special seating? Make arrangements and verify availability.
- Prepare for the rigors. If your trip requires physical activity, start working out.
- Check with your health insurance and Medicare to determine if your destination country has a reciprocal health care agreement. Travel insurance is still needed.
- Get a thorough medical check-up. This step is critical if you any type of chronic health condition, had recent surgery or have a high risk health issue.
- Get medical counsel on diet, food risks where you will be visiting, foods to avoid, medications both those to take and availability of medication if needed. Determine if any of your current medications are prohibited where you are visiting. And be sure to discuss how to manage medications based on changing time zones.
- Some medications you are taking may require a letter of explanation from your doctor in case you are questioned.
- Make sure you have enough meds for the entire trip including syringes and other support material.
- Verify the need for any vaccinations.
- Have a dental, eye and ear check if applicable to avoid potential problems.
- Consider a medical alert chip that will alert the need for help and provide key aspects of your medical history.
- Packing for the trip
- Only take luggage with wheels.
- Take a good book in your carry on but also include a key medications you may need during the flight e.g. pain killers, band-aids, antacids.
- Organize your daily pills in a pill box to avoid forgetting to take your meds.
- Pack a spare pair of glasses.
Airplanes can be hazardous
Sitting still for extended periods of time may cause blood clots in the veins of the legs especially for people with coronary heart disease, or obese. The danger is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Suggestions to minimize the risk while flying or driving are:
- You doctor may suggest a half an aspirin (150mg) on the day of the flight, or to use support stockings.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get up and move around.
- Don’t cross your legs.
- Stretch.
At your destination
- Drink bottled water.
- Avoid food purchases from street vendors.
- Allow time flexibility in your schedule to relax and cope with jet lag.
- Wear thongs on your feet if communal showers are required;
- Never go anywhere without a buddy;
- Don’t show off your expensive jewelry;
- Don’t show your cash when paying for goods; Use a cash belt or carry a dummy wallet to hand over if confronted;
The best trips are the ones you are prepared for. Do your homework first and then enjoy the moment, the people, the cultures, the food and most of all look for what is good on your trip, not what is wrong with it.
Tweet This
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
I have experienced some nightmare travel experiences. I like the lists of ideas to work as a reminder.