A look at travelling with and for the elderly
Most of us have been initiated into the joys of travelling by our parents.Travelling with them usually becomes such a matter of habit that we often forget to notice the balance gradually get skewed…from us depending on our parents to them (tacitly) depending on us till it reaches a point wherein the necessity becomes obvious. The problem that usually crops up in such a scenario is that the thrill of travelling to new places and packing each day with umpteen activities often makes us forget the elderly’s needs.
It is best to follow a set of dos and don’ts to make travelling enjoyable and relaxing for the elderly, while travelling with them.
For Caregivers
The most important items that you have to carry along while travelling with the elderly actually require very little space. Those are patience and sensitivity because one thing that is sure to raise its ambiguous and persistent head is generation gap. You can have their best interest in mind but still your points of view will rarely match. The elderly’s ideas about life, travel and of course money matters are bound to be very different from yours.
Instead of dumping your ideas on them, it is best you include them in the planning. The young often think that they know best thanks to technology but nothing can beat the lessons learnt from experience. As you research and plan, it works great if you fill them in on the destination/s and itinerary.
The elderly thrive on predictability so it is best not to spring a surprise on them. It could ruin the trip as they may feel unnerved regarding what lies ahead and you may be disappointed with their nervous or negative reaction. So, it is advisable to tell them the next day’s or the next few days’ itinerary.
For Elders
First and foremost, you need to have faith in younger family members. With technology providing valuable information about the destination, hotel, cuisine, sightseeing, food etc. travellers can now plan in great detail. So, do listen carefully when the travel plans are being discussed and clarify your queries.
Do not hesitate to give your suggestions as they may prove to be rather valuable during the course of the trip. I had once read about how a person (on his first trip across Europe) had been advised to carry a lot of change. Though he was rather dismissive at first, he soon realised the worth of this seemingly useless piece of advice every time he and his family members needed to use the washroom. Experience always helps!
At the end of the day, despite meticulous planning, issues and crises may crop up during the trip. Be prepared for it and have faith in each other!
