Elderly travelers should make sure they pack all of their medications and other important documents. You may want to bring a portable monitor for your health and a monitor for blood pressure, depending on how old you are. These items will make them more comfortable while they are on vacation. A good idea is to get photocopies copies of any important documents. They can ask their tour agent for help. The copies they have will provide them with peace of mind and could prove useful in any future litigation.
Pre-travel counseling
Elderly travelers may require additional pre-travel preparations because of certain health conditions. Traveling can be difficult for people with chronic conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. This group may benefit from pre-travel counseling to help them plan for their trip.
Comorbidities
Elderly travelers may be vulnerable to serious health problems if they have multiple conditions. Certain diseases can be more dangerous for the elderly due to these conditions. As an example, people over 50 are more likely to have atherosclerotic cardiac disease, chronic pulmonary diseases, or other comorbidities. Additionally, older people are more at risk for death from comorbidities. This means that they are more likely than younger people to spend longer hospital stays.
Safety
Senior travelers should always take precautions while traveling to ensure their safety. Falls are among the most serious dangers. According to the World Health Organization falls are the second leading cause accidental death. Older travelers need to be aware of potential pickpocketing as well as crime. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office also offers safety tips to help older travellers avoid these problems.
Pre-travel immunizations
Pre-travel vaccinations should be considered for older travelers. Immune system age can affect vaccine efficacy, and may cause a decreased or delayed immune response. There are also more chances of developing adverse reactions to vaccines as a result of aging.
Older travelers are more susceptible to severe and fatal infections by YEL-AVD
YEL - AVD is a severe form of the wild-type disease, YF. It is caused by a viral infection that spreads through the body to multiple organs. This can lead to multi-organ failure and even death. The first cases of this illness were reported in 2001.
YEL-AVD
One study demonstrated a strong association between the risk from YF vaccinations and YEL/AVD for elderly travelers. The study of 239 travellers aged 60 years and older in a travel clinic found that 36.8% had planned to travel to an endemic area, and 23.0% had traveled to the area for the first time without getting immunization. One patient was unable or unwilling to take the YF vaccine.
Tips for planning a trip with an elderly parent
While planning a trip to visit an elderly parent can seem daunting, there are tips that can help. First, ensure that your elderly loved one is happy to take the trip. If you can, try to avoid activities that will cause your parent to get jittery. They might not enjoy long car rides or flying by air. Another option is to let them take naps when necessary.