Everyone of every age can enjoy travel, including seniors. Nowadays, there are more options than ever – there are cruises for seniors, bus trips, and overseas flight opportunities. However, it is critical to note that healthy travel looks different for an older adult than it does for someone in their young adult years.
There are several things you should keep in mind to travel with your well-being in mind as an older adult. Keep reading to learn more about a few tips to consider before diving into your next adventure, whether that means a state over or around the world.
Talk With Your Doctor
First, it’s helpful to speak with your healthcare provider before going on any trip. There are many health dangers in travel, and your healthcare provider will know them better than anyone. They will advise you on what you might need to accomplish before taking off.
Your doctor might advise you to do the following before senior travel:
- Get up-to-date on vaccinations
- Renew or pick up a prescription
- Obtain a physical or check-up on a condition
They will ensure you are prepared for anything on your trip.
Talk to your doctor about other circumstances. Let them know about conditions you’re worried about, where you’re going and staying, activities you’re planning on undertaking, and medications you’re taking. Inform them about anything you want their advice on before taking off to achieve peace of mind.
Update Vaccinations
Ensure all your vaccinations are as up-to-date as possible. These will protect you from diseases in other locations, especially those that might be more common in some countries and states than others. It’s ideal to be up-to-date on everything before going on your trip.
Consider vaccinations for the following:
- Measles
- Flu
- COVID-19
- HPV
- Shingles
Your doctor will be able to recommend what you need before you depart.
For some travel locations, you might need specific vaccinations you might not have, some of which must be taken up to six weeks in advance. Check the website of the location where you are headed to determine if there are any requirements to avoid getting sent back before your vacation even starts.
Protect Yourself From DVT
Senior citizens tend to run a much higher risk of DVT, or deep-vein thrombosis, than other adults. This issue occurs when blood clots form in the legs and stop blood flow, though they can appear elsewhere throughout the body.
You are more at risk for DVT when sitting for a long time, such as on a:
- Plane
- Train
- Taxi
- Car
- Boat
The longer you sit, the higher the risk of DVT.
There are several ways to avoid this issue. First, ensure you walk around every so often when sitting for long periods to push blood flow. You may also consider compression stockings to defend your legs while sitting.
Get Everything In Writing
Ensure you get everything in writing for the best experience possible during your travels. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and having you or your doctor write things down will keep your safety at the forefront of your adventure.
Jot down the following to remember on your trip:
- Prescriptions, supplements, and medicines you take, including generic brands of the products.
- Contact information for your doctor and other healthcare options.
- Current medical troubles you’re dealing with and what they’re doing to handle them.
These will keep you as safe as possible.
It will be simple for you to make any necessary replacements and move through customs if you have this list. It will also help others understand how to assist if all else fails. For your benefit, it’s a good idea to keep multiple copies of this information in case you lose one.
Bring Medication
Even with senior citizen health insurance, you will find it impossible to access many medications in other countries. Ensure you take your medicine in its original bottle to make customs simple and to ensure you always have access to the drugs you need.
Always take your necessary medication with you in a carry-on. Unfortunately, many airplanes misplace luggage, and you want to avoid a disastrous scenario where your medicine is temporarily in another country. Always have it with you.
Plan On Time Zones for Medicine
If you’re traveling to a different country or across several states, you will enter a different time zone. The part of the day you take your medication back home will differ once you are on vacation. Talk to your doctor to determine how this schedule might alter and when you should take your pills on the go.
It’s also critical to remember that different countries offer varying foods and beverages. Speak with your doctor to determine how these items might impact your medicine. They should provide you with a list of foods to avoid if there are potentially deadly interactions that could occur.
Defend From Dehydration and Infection
Dehydration and infection are issues in other countries, often taking advantage of tourists who forget about their health while on the move. As an older adult, it’s vital to think about dehydration and infection to ensure you return home in one piece.
Here are a few ways to defend yourself from dehydration and infection:
- Take care when eating and drinking in other countries. Check the CDC site before to remain safe.
- Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands before eating food, especially after crowded travel.
- Drink water whenever you can. On planes, try to drink water instead of opting for coffee or soda.
Also, check out our article Why It’s Important to Stay Hydrated, for more information about hydration during your senior years.
Even the most basic hygiene is beneficial when traveling. You should protect your immune system at all costs, and one of the best ways to do that is to remain vigilant during your travels.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Always prepare for the unexpected. Whether you’re leaving California and traveling to Florida or Spain, anything could happen. There are several options to equip yourself ahead of time, allowing you to prepare for whatever could come up while you are an ocean away from regular medical care.
One helpful option is senior travel insurance. Your insurance might cover any medical expenses on your trip, so contact them before you go. Think about any potential issues you might run into, including buying additional insurance to cover any areas where you aren’t covered yet.
You might also enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveller Enrollment Program. Through this platform, it will be much easier to plan ahead. You can look here to see travel advisories. If you run into an issue abroad, STEP will contact family and friends and contact the Department of State if you run into any serious trouble.
Memorize any emergency numbers in the area where you are traveling and learn basic first aid/CPR before going. Always have medical products on hand when possible, such as band-aids or gauze.
Perform Research
If you are an overseas traveler, it’s always a good idea to research the location before departing on vacation. It’s never a good idea to travel somewhere without any information, especially if you’re going out of the country. You should know what to expect and how it might impact your health.
Consider researching items like the following:
- The main types of food and drink served there, as well as what is safe to have and how it will interact with medication.
- Where you will be staying throughout the duration of your adventure and where it is in proximity to other vital locations.
- Local medicine options and how much they cost.
- The exchange rate, whether they accept cards, and how you will be able to access more money if you need it.
- Hospitals for potential emergencies while you are on the move.
- The safety of the country for tourists.
- The accessibility of a location if you use a walker or wheelchair to get around.
- The best and worst locations for senior travel before setting your heart on a location.
Look up anything that might come in handy while you are there.
The more you research, the more confident you will feel. Healthy travel as an older adult is all about knowing what you are getting into before getting there.
Analyze Yourself After Travel
Traveling as a healthy older adult doesn’t stop after you return from your vacation. For the first few days after you return, monitor your health. If you come down with anything, it’s a good idea to visit the doctor to ensure you didn’t pick up anything that could be detrimental to your overall health.
Some germs might not make themselves known until weeks after you return. Be on the lookout for anything that seems unfamiliar, and contact your doctor with any questions about how you feel.
Final Thoughts About Travel As An Older Adult
Hygiene, medications, and proper research are necessary for travel as an older adult. Although it’s typically riskier for an older individual to travel than younger ones, it’s not impossible. Speak with your doctor to determine what’s necessary to allow yourself on the road again, just like your younger self.
There are plenty of seniors on the go today, moving around the world and exploring locations they never thought possible. As long as you take the proper precautions, it’s possible to enjoy the world as an older adult, no matter what you are facing. Traveling as an older adult is something to look forward to.
