If you love traveling with your kids to create new memories together as you experience the world, you need to consider traveling with the entire family. Taking children and grandparents on a trip can be the experience of a lifetime. Not only can it strengthen the family bonds, but this is also the opportunity to learn more about each other.
However, no matter how healthy grandparents are, you don’t want to take inconsiderate risks with their health. Nobody wishes for anything bad to happen. But in the event of something happening, you want to be prepared for it. Falling ill abroad is never fun, so if you are planning a trip for the whole family, here are some tips to reduce senior health stress.
Know what to expect
How is your mother-in-law’s health? You may think you can answer the question, but until they schedule a health checkup, nobody can provide a real answer. So, if you are in the planning stage, you want to remind grandparents to book a health check with their doctor ahead of the trip.
Why this matters?
- It could highlight things to avoid, such as if their blood sugar is high, you want to stay away from indulgent meals that could be harmful in the long run
- They could receive a prescription for the trip, for example, if they have a bad stomach, they could get a pre-emptive prescription for indigestion
- Getting everything up-to-date, including hearing correction, eyesight correction, etc.
Plan smart health packing
What’s health packing? It’s ensuring that every medication and medical device is trip-ready.
So, if your elderly relative needs prescription medication, you need to make sure they have a refill before the trip. It can also be helpful to take a doctor’s note with you in the event that they need an emergency refill while on holiday.
Similarly, if they use gadgets like hearing aids by Widex, you want to ensure the battery is fully charged and they have a charger or replacement battery with them.
Get the right insurance for peace of mind
Nobody should ever plan a holiday without travel insurance. This is your basic safety net for whatever might happen during the trip. Travel insurance typically also includes medical insurance for the duration of your travel. If you are traveling abroad, it’s a good idea to research international health insurance, which can come in handy.
As said, you don’t want to go expecting the worst to happen. But you need to plan so that mild health hiccups do not turn into a major issue.
Also, if you are traveling abroad, it can be useful to research how to refer to specific medical conditions in the local language. You do not need to take language classes. But you will need to keep a piece of paper with you with the translation of your loved ones’ medical conditions in the local language. This can make a great deal of difference if you need medical assistance.
In conclusion, planning a holiday with children and grandparents is all about prioritizing health, so the family can enjoy the trip. It’s a lot to think about at first, but it will ensure your trip goes smoothly.
