Family trips are an amazing opportunity to connect with your children and spouse in a new environment away from the craziness of day to day life. It is also a great time to create lasting memories that you will all cherish for years to come. In planning your next family trip, you might wish to include your parents so that they can enjoy making memories with their loved ones. However, planning a trip with an aging loved one can be a bit of a challenge, especially if they have an underlying health condition.
Still, in certain circumstances, you might wish to incorporate them into the experience. Maybe you are all heading to a family wedding, and your parents want to be present for the occasion. Perhaps you know that the opportunities for traveling with your parents will be few and far between going forward and you want to take advantage of the time that you have now.
No matter what your reasons for traveling with your ageing loved ones might be, there are a few things you can do in order to make the entire experience more comfortable and enjoyable for all involved.
Consider Hiring a Flight Nurse
There are many things that might make flying a difficult experience for an older individual. It could be an underlying health condition that makes sitting in a small seat for hours on end uncomfortable or the necessity of trying to remember to take medication while in a stressful situation. It could even be the overall taxing nature of air travel that affects most people when flying can all make the prospect less than desirable.
In such situations, it can be helpful to enlist the services of a flight nurse. These are patient advocates that can handle everything from arranging the flights with your elderly parent in mind to administering any necessary medical care in-flight. For instance, Flying Angels is a full-service flight nurse company that can handle these responsibilities and many more so that you and your entire family can enjoy their trip and be as comfortable as possible.
Research the destination
Family trips that include the grandparents aren’t limited to weddings. City breaks to a destination they’ve always wanted to visit can deliver equally magical moments. However, it’s important that you conduct a little research to ensure that the trip is suitable for all the family.
Finding a well-located hotel should be at the top of your agenda as it will benefit young children as well as the grandparents. There are plenty of extra resources that can add convenience and overcome possible issues linked to mobility. Finding somewhere to keep your bags, like Seattle luggage storage when visiting Emerald City, can make a big difference. It saves you from carrying large items around all day, which allows you to focus on supporting the elderly members of your travel party. It may also be worth seeking out some of the quieter or more relaxed attractions in the city. Setting up maps on your smartphone before starting a day’s activities will also aid your cause. Getting lost is the last thing that you want to happen.
Choose a Senior-Friendly Destination
If you are going to a wedding or another family-oriented event, you might not have much say as to the location. However, if you are planning a family vacation that will include your parents, you will want to find a destination that is well-suited to be as enjoyable as possible for everyone present.
There are a great many resorts that cater to an older demographic while at the same time providing entertainment and fun for the younger members of your family. No matter where you are heading, you should always call ahead and communicate with any hotels or resorts so as to make the perfect arrangements for everyone in your party, including your ageing relatives.
One option that will surely be popular with everyone in your group is that of a cruise. Comfortable accommodations, multiple food options, and entertainment geared towards all age groups make cruises the perfect family vacation.