Too old to travel?  Not at all!

In the vast majority of cases anyone can travel it just requires some suitable commonsense and planning to ensure that the individual is not taking on more than is sensible. With good doctor/patient interaction, many of the potential pitfalls can be overcome and the older traveler can look forward to a well deserved escape from those overactive grandchildren.

Medical checks Before actually booking the holiday and paying the deposit it is wise for the older traveler to visit their doctor and discuss their plans. At that stage the GP can assess the individual’s general health and see how this may possibly interfere with the proposed trip. The final decision in almost every case must be up to the traveler but they at least should listen to what the doctor thinks before making any final decision.

Where to, when and why? Knowing the location (either from an informed travel agent or a personal contact) is worth its weight in gold. For the traveler planning a ‘standard’ holiday to a warmer climate then issues like the duration of the flight, the expected temperature/humidity, the local level of pollution, the closeness of shopping facilities, the number of stairs to the apartment/room etc are all features which can make or break a trip abroad.

Group travel For those older travelers planning to take part in a group trip it is essential that they know something of their travelling companions. If the average group age is significantly less than their own they may feel pressurized to over-do their activities with very unpleasant consequences.

Travel Insurance: Travelers in the older age bracket will more likely have an underlying health condition which could be exacerbated by long-haul travel. In these cases it is essential to know that their insurance policy will cover local medical care (including hospitalization) and also repatriation. The traveler should discuss their specific requirements through with a specialized travel insurance broker. Honesty in declaration is essential and the medical practitioner should not be tempted to skimp on the details of previous medical history as this may have serious financial consequences for the traveler should their policy be called into action.

Carrying medications: the older traveler often will be on prescribed medications. Providing these are clearly marked there should be no difficulty at customs (if traveling out of the country). Occasionally, for some of the more obscure medications, it may be helpful to have a doctors letter confirming that the medications are essential and required for the individual travelers personal health. Correct storage facilities may be important (insulin, various eye ointments etc) and the individual should always have a sufficient supply for their entire time. It may be wise to split their supply with a travelling companion so that if one lot gets misplaced the remainder will at least keep them going while replacements are sought. A small sensible first aid kit containing antiseptic cream, corn plasters, support bandage etc may be a useful addition especially for those who will be walking a fair deal.

Special circumstances: Arthritis and back pain can be made worse through either inactivity while undertaking a long-haul flight or from uncomfortable seating arrangements at airports or on planes. Regular movement is important and the traveler should be encouraged to use the compression stockings to reduce the risk of deep venous thrombosis.

Seeing:  Eyesight tends to fail with advancing years and many older people would be lost without their glasses. Travelling with only one pair (and without the prescription) is foolhardy.

Source: Extracts from article on www.seniortimes.ie

Please feel free to call Catherine Moloney at 617 265 5300 x12 for more information on IPC Senior Citizen Outreach Program activities and services

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