Each year, the vast majority of adults take a summer trip. Some head to the airport, luggage in tow, looking to go to faraway destinations like Europe or Asia. Others prefer to stay closer to home, taking a car to the beach or the mountains. Either way, the summer is a busy month for travelers, matched only by the holiday season.
Among the travelers will be many seniors, an age group that is generally able to spend more time on vacations due to the flexibility that comes with retirement. On average, those in the baby boomer generation travel four to five times a year, with many trips coming after prolonged planning. This planning often results in memorable experiences as seniors get to see sites they’ve always wanted to see, enjoying new cuisine and new cultures in the process.
At its core, travel is meant to be enjoyable. It is meant to be a time where you can increase your understanding of the world around you, relishing all that it has to offer. You want to maximize this time, making sure nothing gets in the way of you and your itinerary. Thus, preparation is key.
Before embarking on a trip, it is crucial that seniors know some of the key factors that can help them have a memorable, successful vacation. Keep reading to find out more!
Manage Medications
For many seniors, taking prescription medications is a daily event. Such medications are used to control essential health functions, letting us live life to the fullest each day. Thus, it’s important to have them with you on your trip. While this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised by how many people forget their medications at home and must navigate foreign medical services and insurance companies in order to get a replacement, taking time away from their vacation.
We recommend that you take your medications with you, in luggage that is easily accessible. Additionally, carrying them in their original containers is recommended so that it is clear they belong to you and are properly labeled.
If you take medicine at certain times of day, ask your doctor or primary care physician how time changes and travel can affect your schedule. And, as always, make sure that your doctor or primary care physician says it’s okay for you to travel.
Stay Active on Long Flights
When traveling, long flights are a fact of life. While we’d love to snap our fingers and teleport to Rome or Paris, scientists just haven’t gotten that far yet. Thus, airplanes it is!
When flying, one must sit down for a long period of time and weather multiple changes in air pressure, perhaps even taking in less oxygen than their body is used to. These are all risk factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis, a condition caused by blood clots in the legs that can lead to negative health outcomes.
Though the chances of getting such a clot are slim, medical professionals recommend that adults on flights longer than six hours walk around every two or three hours and stretch their legs every 30 minutes. Additionally, make sure that you drink plenty of water, as the dry conditions inside a plane can lead to dehydration.
Ask your doctor or primary care physician for advice before embarking on a long flight.
Consider Travel Insurance
Let’s face it, sometimes life throws us a curveball. That’s why it’s always important to be prepared in case life decides to throw a wrench in your plans. Doing so means that you may save money, time and energy!
Travel insurance can be something that helps on expensive international trips, especially if a flight is canceled, luggage is lost or an unforeseen circumstance arises. Such insurance can recover some of those losses and make sure your financial burden is minimal.
At Sagora Senior Living, we know how beneficial traveling is. With 61 communities in 12 different states, you’re never too far away from one of the country’s top destinations when you’re at a Sagora community.
Our communities are the perfect home base for you or your loved ones, giving them a place to call home while they travel the world! Additionally, many of our communities feature group outings to some of their area’s top destinations, giving residents a chance to bond while they take in the local sights.
To learn more tour your local Sagora community today!