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Nov 9 / 2014

Tips for traveling in the elderly

Planning

Before embarking on a trip, it is important to plan it in advance: what will be needed, how will you get there, will you need documents such as visas, treatment reports, health cards, vaccinations ... Above all, in the case of older people, it is It is essential to inform yourself well and plan your holidays completely so as not to have problems or last minute unexpected events. You must have planned:

  • The means of transport

In the case of traveling by plane, it is important to go to the airport with enough time to carry out all the procedures and controls. Older people should come well in advance since, often, the movements within the airport itself are endless. In addition, in case of having difficulties in ambulation, they can request a wheelchair from the flight company or the airport itself to move more easily.

  • Travel time

If the trip lasts more than two hours, it is important to get up and walk through the corridors of the plane, move the feet, arms and neck, to avoid the appearance of clots in the legs or possible muscle contractures. Similarly, in the case of traveling by coach (less frequent in older people) or by car, it is advisable to get out of the vehicle and “stretch your legs” every two hours.

  • Time and Pace Changes: Jet-Lag

Traveling involves a change in the rhythm of life. Older people tend to have a very regular routine, so a very radical change is not recommended. In any case, if a jet lag occurs, it is convenient to try to gradually adapt to the new situation in order to reduce the effect of jet-lag.

  • Feeding

Older people tend to eat a balanced diet based on a number of foods that their stomach is already used to. Traveling, however, involves knowing a new gastronomy: dishes more complex than the usual ones, new foods, exotic cuisines ... It is good to explore this aspect of culture but in moderation since if there is a radical change in diet, there is a risk of feeling bad.

  • Clothing

Any movement implies the choice of spacious and comfortable garments. Once at the destination we must adapt the clothes to the temperature of the place, therefore, it is useful to find out about the temperatures and usual weather conditions of our destination before packing. This aspect is essential for older people who feel changes in temperature much more.

  • Health documentation

Before any displacement, be it short or long, near or far, you have to bring the precise documentation. It is essential to remind older people to take with them:

  • The Individual Health Card to be treated in an emergency center of the public system within the Spanish territory.
  • The in the case of traveling through the European Union. It must be requested at the Social Security Information Offices and is valid for two years.
  • Travel insurance policy: for trips outside of Europe it is interesting to subscribe it. We can find out at travel agencies.

    • Medication

    The vast majority of older people take medication on a regular basis. If a chronic or long-term treatment is followed, they must be sure to carry (in hand luggage in the case of flights) a sufficient amount of medication for the planned days of the trip. If borders have to be crossed, it is interesting to bring a report from the usual doctor, translated at least into English, specifying the need for treatment.

    In addition, if you do not need medication on a regular basis, it is advisable to carry a small emergency kit for unforeseen events. This kit will vary depending on the destination, but in general it should include:

    Material for cures (adhesive dressings, tape, sterile gauze, antiseptic), analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen).

  • Motion sickness medication.
  • Dermal cream with a mild corticosteroid (for insect bites or mild rashes).
  • Digital clinical thermometer.

    • Vaccines

    An elderly person may not make trips of such length or distance but, in the case of international transfers, the traveler should be advised on the need for vaccinations or other medications to prevent diseases typical of the area to be visited. The information can be obtained from the International Vaccination Centers of the Ministry of Health. There, in addition to facilitating vaccinations or the necessary medication, it provides information on other important prophylactic actions. However, for these measures to be effective, the information has to be sought in good time before the trip: the treatment sometimes has to be applied a few weeks before the trip, and it is also necessary to have the waiting list of the centers vaccination.

    WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
    • As we get older, it is more important to plan a trip in advance as we have more needs.
    • Planning the trip involves organizing what means of transport to use, what clothes to wear, what medications or vaccines will be needed ...
    • Older people are not used to breaking their routine, so changes in the rhythm of life, in the schedule or in the gastronomy can cause them discomfort.

    We hope that with these tips, older people enjoy the trips they want with the least possible risk.


    (Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)

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