Tips for Traveling by Plane with Your Senior

Traveling is a part of the holiday season for many families, and if you are planning to take a journey to visit friends and family during the holidays, it is important to be prepared.

Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult means preparing not just for the travel itself, but also for handling your parent’s needs and challenges during this time. There are many options for traveling, and if you are going a far distance from home, flying may be the option that is best for you. While this can be the fastest way to get from one point to another, it poses further challenges and issues that must be handled effectively to keep travel safe and healthy for all of you.

Elderly Care in Reston VA: Tips for Traveling

Use these tips to travel by plane with your senior this holiday season:

Check the policies of the airline you’ve selected. Be aware many do not allow for checked bags without charging a fee, and some “budget” ticket options do not permit carry-on luggage. Make sure you know these policies ahead of time so you can make the selection that is right for your family’s needs

If possible, choose tickets that allow you to select your seats within the plane. This ensures your family will sit together, or at least that your senior and your children will not be completely alone during the travel

Contact the airline and find out about priority boarding for those with physical needs. You may be able to arrange for early boarding for your elderly adult and one caregiver so they can get inside, find their seats, get settled, and be ready for the trip

Plan for plenty of time at the airport. It is recommended to arrive two hours or more ahead of takeoff during regular travel periods. During the holidays, the process of boarding can be longer, and the airport is likely to be much busier. Plan for an extra hour or more to reduce rushing and the risk of missing the flight

Dress carefully to make going through security easier and faster. Wear shoes that can be easily removed, avoid excess layers, and take off outer layers prior to approaching security to make it a faster process through to the gates

If you have been looking for ways to enhance your senior’s quality of life, boost their mental and emotional health and well-being, and give yourself more flexibility and time in your schedule, home care may be the ideal solution. An in-home senior care services provider can offer your aging parent a set of fully customized services specifically designed to match their needs so they can manage these issues in the most effective ways for them. This not only helps them to stay safe and healthy as they age, but also to pursue more independence, maintain better emotional well-being, and find more meaning and satisfaction in their later years.

Are you or a loved-one considering Elderly Care Services in Reston, VA?  Please call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. Contact: 703-273-8818

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Michelle DeFilippis

I graduated with a BS degree and had been selling medical equipment to hospitals, clinics and technicians. More recently, a family member was diagnosed with dementia and we, as a family, realized we were not prepared t care for her. We were thrown into that whirlpool of hospital stays, 24/7 live-in care, skilled care, caring for mom ourselves and finally, now daily home care. This was such a stressful time that I started thinking there had to be other people, other families as overwhelmed and unprepared as we were.

Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.

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