Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My mom and I travel together once a year. It’s a tradition, but this year her health has been compromised, and I am not sure she will be able to keep up like she used to. My desire is for her to relax and not be stressed about her limitations. I wonder if there are any ideas or tips that could ease the stress?
A. What a lovely tradition you share with your mother. The last thing you want it to turn into is a stressful endeavor! Traveling is fun and exciting, so let’s work on how to keep it that way. Since your mother has developed some challenges, the best advice I can give you is to plan ahead as much as possible. Think through your trip and note where it might be a good idea to call ahead to explore services available to help you. For example, is her diet an issue? If so, arrange for those choices to be set up ahead of time. Making a timeline of your trip can be a great tool to help you with that. If there is a wheelchair involved, contact the airport and/or airlines to find out what services they offer.
If she is still able to walk easily, make sure she has comfortable shoes and clothes. Pack extra supplies in your carry-on so you will be prepared for her needs as you travel. Make copies of important documents such as a passport, insurance cards, list of medications, phone numbers, etc. Keep a copy for yourself and for her as well. When it comes to medications, mark everything properly and package it so you can access it easily. Plastic bags with zip closures work great for this. Keep these in your mom’s carry-on. Again, keep a copy of this list with you as well. I also suggest keeping a copy in your mother’s checked baggage.
If you are driving to your destination, make sure you know where rest stops are located along the way and be mindful of them. Rest stops add to extra travel time, so make sure you keep that in mind. Keep your schedule lite and plan things that accommodate your mother’s abilities. As you enjoy your vacation, remember it is about spending time with each other. This may mean you have more down time, but that is okay! Enjoy the new memories and each other’s company. That is the most important goal, and hopefully you can continue this wonderful tradition.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
