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This article gives ten ways to
help achieve a safe and joyful
air travel experience with your
elderly parent. This is based
on personal experience with my
own 91-year-old mother. After
having some rather stressful trips
with my mother, I have made conscious
efforts to create more joy in
our travels. My goal was to reduce
the frustration for my mother
and for myself.
1. Include your parent in the
planning stage of making reservations
for rooms.
Some parents prefer having a separate
room. Others like the security
of sharing a room.
2. Review procedures for closing
out their residence prior to leaving.
Stop paper, mail, etc. Make sure
there are no appointments lined
up for the time period of the
trip.
3. Plan to travel on a day ahead
of the main activities of the
trip.
This time gives space for transition
to the new environment and rest
from the trip.
4. Arrange with the hotel/motel
for adjoining rooms if you are
in separate rooms.
This gives you the opportunity
for easy connecting. Even keeping
the key for your parent could
be helpful. Doors are usually
very heavy and are not easy to
handle. Better to have your parent
wait in the room until you are
with them.
5. Go over the procedures for
contacting the front desk so that
the security of having help nearby
is there.
Caution against opening the door
thinking it could be family. Rely
on the phone for connection if
you don't have the key to their
room.
6. If agreeable for your parent,
arrange ahead of time for a wheelchair.
Distances in the airport are LONG
and there is so much confusion
everywhere. Being in the wheelchair
takes away that stress for your
parent. AND you can zip through
the security lines when you are
with a wheelchair passenger!
7. Take along extra reading material
for your parent to make the waiting
time go faster.
Something you have may be more
interesting since it is different
from what your parent usually
reads.
8. Take along a nightlight so
that there is safety at night
for going to the bathroom.
So many elderly people have falls
which lead to inactivity which
leads to degeneration of the body.
Having light at night is a great
safety precaution against falls.
9. Be careful not to pack the
schedule too tight.
Leave room for naps when necessary.
Take along plenty of reading for
yourself so that you are not impatient
waiting.
10. When returning home, check
over their residence to make certain
all is in shape for reentry.
Make certain lights are working.
Check for any leaks in water lines.
Ask if there is anything that
you can do for them before you
leave. Coming home after a trip
is another important transition.
Suzanne Holman,MAEd works with
successful professional baby boomers
who want to use their brains not
only for financial abundance but
for bringing more JOY to their
lives!
Visit Suzanne Holman's website,
http://www.suzanneholman.com for
a complimentary Exuberance E Course
and Assessment.
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