Whether you’re planning a beach trip with your grandparents or you’re surprising your mother with a vacation abroad, traveling with senior citizens can be overwhelming. There are many things to take into consideration, such as airplane boarding assistance, medication, and transportation options. Read these tips for traveling with senior citizens so you can be well prepared the next time you travel with older family or friends.
Book a Non-Stop Flight
Whether you’re traveling from Denver to California or California to Rome, you should make it a priority to book a non-stop flight. Not only will booking a non-stop flight minimize your chances of a missed connection, it can help to reduce travel time as well. This can be very beneficial to senior citizens, as traveling can take quite a bit of energy. It’s also important to avoid flying in smaller regional jets. This is because most of the passengers on these jets must climb a flight of stairs to get onto the plane, which may be challenging for your elderly loved one.
Mobility Assistance
Depending on the airport you are flying out of, you may want to call ahead of time to inquire about any senior assistance programs. Most airports will send a member of their staff with a wheelchair to help elderly people get to their gate in a timely fashion. If necessary, you can also request seat assignments for your senior citizen travelers. If you fail to make and confirm these requests at the time of your flight, the airline may not have the equipment and staff available to assist you.
Pack The Proper Medical Forms
One of the most important things to remember to pack are any medical forms and other important documentation pertaining to the health of your elderly friend or family member. By bringing this information along, it will give you ease of mind if there is an emergency during your trip. We recommend filing these items in a binder or folder before you begin traveling.
Ensure The Proper Vaccinations
Before you take off on your trip, it’s important to make sure that the senior citizen you are traveling with is up to date on their vaccinations. Seniors should be caught up on routine vaccinations like measles, mumps, and the seasonal flu. If you plan on traveling to another country, they may also need vaccines for hepatitis, polio, and yellow fever.
Take A Shuttle To The Airport
You may be surprised to learn that not all on and off-site airport parking lots offer door-to-door airport shuttle services. This can be very inconvenient for those who have trouble walking long or even short distances. Make sure to do your research and find a company that can pick you up at your car and drop you off at your terminal.
If you’re flying out of Denver and you’re looking for affordable and convenient parking, be sure to check out ParkDIA’s parking rates and options online. Located just a few miles away from the terminal, we offer a complimentary shuttle service that will get you from your car to your terminal within 5 to 10 minutes. With our mobile app, you can track the status of our shuttles, reserve and pay for parking, record your parking space, and so much more.
