Elderly travellers should ensure they have their medications and all other documents. It is possible that they will also need a portable heart monitor and blood pressure monitor, depending on their age. These items will make them more comfortable while they are on vacation. A great idea is to take photocopies of important documents. They can ask the tour agent to help them with this. The copies they have will provide them with peace of mind and could prove useful in any future litigation.
Pre-travel counseling
Certain health conditions can make travel more challenging for seniors. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, for example, can make travel more difficult. These people can get pre-travel counseling that will help them prepare for travel.
Comorbidities
Elderly travelers may be vulnerable to serious health problems if they have multiple conditions. These conditions can make the elderly more vulnerable to certain diseases. As an example, people over 50 are more likely to have atherosclerotic cardiac disease, chronic pulmonary diseases, or other comorbidities. Comorbidities can increase the risk that an elderly person will die. In addition, longer hospital stays are common for older patients with these conditions.
Safety
Senior travelers must take extra precautions when traveling in order to be safe. Falls are the number one risk. According to World Health Organization, falls are the second most common cause of accidental deaths. Older travellers need to be aware that there is a risk of pickpocketing or other criminal activity. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office gives information to older travelers to help them avoid these issues.
Pre-travel immunizations
Pre-travel immunizations are a must for older travelers. Immune system aging can impact vaccine efficacy. This can lead to a diminished or delayed immune response. There are also more chances of developing adverse reactions to vaccines as a result of aging.
Senior travelers are more likely to contract severe and fatal complications from YELAVD
YEL - AVD is a severe form of the wild-type disease, YF. It is an infection that spreads via a virus and can cause multi-organ failure or even death. 2001 was the year that the first cases were reported.
YEL-AVD
One study found a strong link between the risk of YF vaccination and YEL-AVD in elderly travelers. A study of 239 people aged 60 and over in a clinic for travel found that 36.8% planned to travel to an area with endemic disease, while 23.0% had never been immunized. Among them, one patient had a contraindication to YF vaccine.
Tips for planning a trip to the elderly parent
While planning a trip to visit an elderly parent can seem daunting, there are tips that can help. Make sure your elderly parent is comfortable with the idea of going on the trip. Try to avoid activities that might make your parent nervous. They might not enjoy long car rides or flying by air. You might also consider allowing them to take a nap when they need.