Tips for Packing for Vacation with Your Senior
Elder Care in Vienna VA: Tips for Packing for Vacation
Traveling together is something that many families enjoy at least once a year. For many families, the most common time for a vacation is the summer. Planning a summertime getaway with your elderly loved one can be an exceptional way to help boost their mental and emotional health, support a stronger relationship with the different generations of the family, and create memories together that you can cherish well into the future. This is a wonderful way to bring additional meaning into your care journey and help to give your senior a better quality of life, while also easing your stress and giving you something to look forward to even in challenging times in your care efforts.
One of the most important steps in preparing for a vacation is packing. Making sure that your senior has everything that they might need during this getaway can give both of you peace of mind and help to make the trip more enjoyable and smoother for all of you.
Use these tips when packing for vacation with your senior:
- Do not overpack. Bringing too much luggage can be difficult to maneuver and can crowd your vehicle if you are going on a road trip. It can also be overwhelming. Do not overpack for your senior, but rather prepare in advance by either choosing a rental or a hotel with laundry facilities or finding a laundromat close by that you can use to keep their clothing fresh and clean throughout the trip.
- Do not under-pack. As much as you do not want to bring too much, you also do not want to underestimate how much your parent might need. Keep in mind activities that you will be doing and bring along options that will be appropriate for them as well as one or two extra outfits. Be sure to bring plenty of socks and undergarments, which may need to be changed more than once during the day. Remember that elderly adults tend to have more difficulty regulating their temperature and may be more vulnerable to issues such as air conditioning. Be sure to bring along a light jacket or sweater to keep them comfortable.
- Mix and match. While having a special outfit or two for specific activities and events is fun, you can make packing far easier and handling getting dressed during your trip much easier if you focus on “mix and match” type options when selecting your parent’s clothing. Choose bottoms and tops that can easily go together and that can be used to make different outfits that will be appropriate for different activities, weather conditions, and moods.
- Consider packing by outfit. For an even more streamlined experience, consider packing your parent’s clothing by outfit. Choose all of the pieces of any given outfit and pack them together in a large zipper bag. Mark it with a brief description on the front and pack. This way, your parent can just take out a bag and they have their outfit ready. This can be particularly helpful for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Starting elder care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An elderly home care services provider can step in to fill any care gaps that might exist in the care that you are able to give them, whether that means coming to their home once or twice a week to help them handle specific tasks such as bathing or grocery shopping, or being with them every day for several hours because you live at a distance. The highly personalized services of an elderly home care services provider help ensure that your senior gets the care, support, assistance, and encouragement that they need to manage their needs while also helping them to pursue more fulfillment and independence in their daily life as they age in place. When it comes to going on vacation with your family a care provider can make a tremendous difference for you. Whether it is a respite provider who cares for your parent at home while you travel, or a regular provider who comes along with you to care for them, this care provider can help you relax and enjoy your vacation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Vienna, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
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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