Family vacations can be amazing experiences and can help you form lasting memories for multiple generations of the whole family. When traveling with senior and elderly relatives, there are some things you should be aware of to ensure they enjoy the trip too. Here are some top tips for traveling with seniors and the elderly on a family vacation.
Choose a Senior Friendly Destination
When you are choosing a place to stay, make sure it is suitable for senior and elderly visitors. This should be one of your priorities when finding accommodation and your destination. Too many steps and stairs, awkwardly arranged public spaces, and small, tight bedrooms can all pose mobility hazards for seniors. Look for accommodation that has senior and elderly-friendly spaces and bedrooms to make your stay easier.
Plan Your Itinerary
Having a schedule to stick to can be very reassuring for elderly tourists. They are comforted knowing what they will be doing and when, and it gives them time to prepare for events and outings. You should get them involved too and use their input to help decide where to go and when. They can have some great ideas as well which can lead to some great family memories from your vacation.
Be Prepared for Their Dietary Needs
Eating on vacation can be challenging for many members of the family. Elderly relatives can not only struggle to find dishes and flavors that they can digest, but they can also struggle to find foods and beverages that they can swallow. Traveling with some SimplyThick to help you change the consistency of foods and beverages is a good idea. These powders can be added to any liquid to make it more palatable to elderly people who have difficulty swallowing some foods and drinks.
Check Your Transportation
Accommodation can present problems for the elderly, but so can transportation. This is especially a concern for elderly travelers who struggle with mobility and use equipment to help them get around. You may need to ensure your transportation plans can accommodate your elderly relative’s walker or rascal scooter. This can prevent a lot of problems on your day of travel, which will be stressful enough.
Use Senior Discounts When Booking
Many travel companies and accommodation offer discounts for senior citizens, and you should remember to take advantage of these when making your bookings. This can help you save a considerable amount of money on your vacation budget which you can use to invest in other areas of your trip. These types of senior discounts can also help pay for any additional costs you incur when making sure your trip is senior-friendly. A first-floor room in a hotel may cost extra, but the senior discount levels the price making it cost the same as any other room.
Traveling with elderly relatives can be a lot of fun. Plan ahead to avoid any pitfalls and senior travelers will enjoy the trip just as much as the young ones. Remember these top tips when you are planning your next vacation with senior family members.
Leave a Reply