Are you planning on taking a family vacation? If so, there's no need to leave your loved ones behind. Plan that fun vacation, the whole family can enjoy by using the tips below to ensure great times for everyone, including your elderly loved ones.
Choose Your Destination Carefully
If you’re planning to take your elderly loved ones on vacation this summer, choose your destination carefully. While you may want to go on an adventurous holiday across the world, elderly people may have concerns. Elderly people may have trouble getting travel insurance, so they may be uncomfortable travelling out-of-province. If they have chronic health conditions, they may worry about being able to access doctors in another country.
Take these concerns into consideration when you’re choosing your destination. If your loved ones can’t get travel insurance, look for a fun destination in Ontario. Or, if they’re worried about access to doctors, choose to spend your vacation in a major city, not a remote location.
Book Lodging in Advance
When you’re travelling on your own, you may not bother booking lodging in advance. You can show up in your destination, choose a hotel, and take whatever room they have available. That’s very risky when you’re travelling with elderly loved ones. They may have different needs for lodging.
If your loved ones have mobility issues, they may need a ground-floor room. If they use a wheelchair, they may need a room with wider doors or a roll-in shower. Before you leave for your trip, call hotels to find out which ones have rooms that meet your loved one’s needs. Book your rooms in advance so there won’t be any surprises when you arrive.
Consider Transportation Methods
When you’re planning your vacation, consider which transportation methods are suitable for your loved ones. Airline travel can be hazardous or unpleasant for elderly people. Jet lag can be very stressful for elderly people, and it can complicate medication schedules. Elderly people can also get injured when they’re getting on or off the plane. Your loved ones may want to fly, but if not, look for alternative transportation methods.
If your loved ones don’t want to fly, consider taking a road trip to your destination. When you drive, you can take frequent stops for snacks or bathroom breaks. Sitting in a car is also more comfortable than sitting in a cramped airplane seat.
Schedule Some Time Apart
Your elderly loved ones need independence, and you probably want to spend some time alone, too. When you’re planning your family vacation, ensure to schedule some time apart. Look for destinations that will everyone in the family pursue different activities (if they choose to). For example, you could choose to go to a beachfront resort. Everyone can choose between going to the beach, hanging out around the pool, or relaxing in their rooms.
Take Day Tips
You don’t need to take a multi-week vacation with your elderly loved ones. Another great option is to take fun day trips. When you take day trips, you don’t need to worry about issues like accessible lodging or air transportation. At the end of the day, your loved ones get to go back to their comfortable home and their professional caregivers.
Day trips don’t have to limit your vacation options. There are many day trip locations in Ontario. You could take your elderly loved ones to Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake. You could go see a performance at the Stratford Festival. Or, you could take your loved ones to a cruise on Lake Muskoka. Ask your loved ones if there are any places in Ontario they’ve always wanted to go and then start preparing for a relaxing vacation for all.
