How to Make Travel Arrangements for Elderly Parents at Christmas

Every year at Christmas, the family gets together with grandma and grandpa, taking turns between their home or yours. However, this year your work brought about a change in your residence so that you are no longer living in the same town as your folks. Your parents would really like to take this opportunity to see your new home, the schools where their grandkids will be attending, and just spend time away from the assisted living residence that they are now living in. Unfortunately, they have a few medical issues that may make travel arrangements a bit tricky. It’s actually easier than you might think with just a little bit of forethought.

Doctor Approved Travel

Before booking travel arrangements, you will need to be assured that it is safe for your parents to travel. There may be some health issues which might prevent air travel. If it is determined that it is safe for your parents to fly, then it’s time to begin making plans. Bear in mind that the holidays are the busiest travel dates in the year, so book those flights as early as possible.

Arranging Medical Assistance for Air Travel

You may not be familiar with medical flight companies but what these services provide usually entails hiring medical support for whatever flight you book. A qualified nurse or medical attendant flies with your aging parents to ensure to their health and safety in-flight and at any terminals they may be changing planes at if it’s not a thru-flight to your airport. They will ensure that your parents take any medications needed during the flight and will help them get safely on or off the right flights. Many elderly parents are just at the beginning stages of dementia, so hiring a medical flight assistant is of extreme importance.

Consult Staff at the Assisted Living Residence

Once you have made travel arrangements and organized a medical assistant to fly with them on both legs of the journey, it’s time to consult with the nurses or case manager at the assisted living facility in which they are residing. You will need their help ensuring that all medications are packed along with dosing instructions. These will be turned over to the nurse or assistant flying with your parents and will then be handed over to you upon arrival. It will be especially important to have the assistance of the residential facility in packing all medicines and medical supplies if your aging parents have the early signs of memory loss.

Imagine having all these services even just a few decades ago! From assisted living facilities with all the amenities to medical attendants that can travel with your parents, there is no reason not to be assured that your parents will have the very best of care. Next year it will be your turn to travel there, but for this year, you will be able to relax knowing that the trip will be as safe and comfortable as humanly possible.

This is a guest blog entry.