Caregiver Tips: Starting to Prepare Now for Holiday Travel

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It may still be early in the fall season, but before you know it, it will be holidays. With this joyful season right around the corner, your thoughts are probably going to center on spending time with your family members who you do not have the opportunity to see very often, delicious food, and all of the warm and fuzzy feelings that come along with the holidays. It is important not to forget about the logistics of celebrating those holidays. One thing that you will need to think about at this time of year that takes on even more significance now that you are a family caregiver for your elderly loved ones is travel.

Traveling for the holidays can be a lot of fun, and is the perfect opportunity to make some lasting memories with your entire family, but when you are trying to maintain a care routine and ensure that your seniors are safe, happy, and healthy throughout the entire experience, hitting the road for the holidays can be stressful. Preparing ahead of time and using some simple tips and tricks can ensure you get the most out of your trip without sacrificing your care efforts.

Use these tips to help you start planning for your holiday travel now so you can feel more confident when the time comes to head out for your family celebrations:

• Book your hotel. You may love the idea of staying in your family’s home for the holidays, but if you are caring for your parents, this may not be the best idea. Your care routine may be disruptive to other people staying at the home, and if the home does not have adequate space for everyone to stay close to each other, you may find yourself uncomfortable and having to cut corners when it comes to your care. Instead, look for a hotel that has a suite that can accommodate all of you. This gives you plenty of room and private space so your parents can get the care they need as well as peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Make your reservations now while there is still space and you can take advantage of advance booking discounts!
• Schedule plenty of time. You might want to use every precious moment of your vacation from work to spend quality time with your loved ones relaxing and enjoying the holiday, but you should not try to squeeze extra time by planning a too-tight travel schedule. Traveling with adults, whether you are flying or driving, poses extra challenges that could mean needing more time. It is better to extend your travel by a few hours than it is to push and have hungry, tired, or sick parents.
• Get help. If you are going to be traveling with your children as well as your seniors, all of the care tasks can quickly become overwhelming. Consider looking into a referred caregiver who can travel with you to offer extra support so you can relax and feel more confident throughout the entire traveling experience.