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More Comfy Traveling When You Have Challenges
- By tonia boterf
- News - Articles Published 02/17/2010
- Elder Care
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More Comfy Traveling When You Have Challenges
Many senior adults avoid traveling as they get older for a variety of reasons. All travelers experience physical and/or some kind of mental discomfort when traveling but other factors in a person's life may make traveling more of a challenge.
Whether you have a temporary physical challenge or a permanent one, traveling can be viewed as something to be avoided or as a painful experience and something to never do again. From personal experience, I've had to learn how to plan my traveling plans more smartly, so I can be more comfy. Here are some ideas that may help you to keep traveling and enjoying the trip.
1. Planning is the key towards enjoying a traveling experience. Doing your homework on where you want to visit and/or stay. Knowing what you need to ask for while traveling. Knowing what you need to bring yourself, to make traveling easier is a must too.
2. Have your trips plans in writing, plan ahead, have reservation numbers and such written down and handy to get at.
3. Have all you need for medications already put into daily dosages and have a couple more days' worth than your trip lasts, in case you are stranded. If you need to take pain meds, anti-depressants, GERD, or other drugs for conditions that can flare up during traveling or a trip - make sure you have extra dosages on hand if a flare up should occur. Tell your doctor you are traveling and they can prescribe a separate prescription just for the trip that does have the extras you might need.
4. Make sure you have all of the 'equipment' you need for comfort. For instance, I travel with a cane w/seat built in (I don't use it daily but have found it very helpful on many trips), back cushion, my pillow in my luggage, I may order to have a recliner from a rent a furniture store already in my hotel room or place I'm staying for a week, ask to be put in a room or unit that doesn't require walking a mile and that is quiet. I often buy a lounging lawn chair in whatever city I'm in for my room for the week, so I have something I can sit on - many chairs in places don't work for me. I even ask to make sure my room is one that has one of the newer or a firm mattress. Plan and ask for what you need.
5. If you're traveling by air and your flight connections are close in time, make sure the airline knows you may need extra time if the flight arrives late - do this at check in. Ask for a wheelchair or cart ride to meet you when you arrive and transport you or if your flight is late, ask the stewardess to arrange it for when you depart. This saved me missing a flight once at O'Hare when my flight was late and the next flight was way across the airport. Don't be afraid to ask and do tip.
6. How to beat the discomfort of a hotel/motel: Buy a timeshare and use it for vacations anywhere by the week(s) or in a couple days worth. For me, staying in long term hotels/motels is great since there is more room and a frig which is great when you need drinks for medications for have an abnormal schedule. Even better is using timeshares, even if it means driving or taxis to get to my meeting spot, you have a complete small apartment basically and it is usually much more comfortable, roomy and easier to meet your needs.
7. Don't forget to ask for discounts due to your age or affiliation with an organization, such as AARP. Whether it's food, airfare, hotel, tickets, entrance fees, or whatever, always ask if there is a discount. Save money when and where you can, so you can use it on something else.
8. Ask. Too often people just don't ask about accommodations that could help them make their traveling experience more comfortable. There is nothing to be nervous about, nothing to feel 'ashamed' about, if you have needs, then it ultimately is up to you to ask to have those needs met. You should know too, that what you are asking for is very unlikely to be anything new or unexpected and that it will also be met with willingness to help. Just ask.
9. Often, having another person along is either necessary or helps significantly. Many times, if someone is accompanying you due to disabilities or challenges, they may go free or at a reduced rate as your helper. Here again, ask everywhere and you'll be surprised.
10. Times are changing. There are 65 Million Americans over the age of 50 and a huge proportionate of them have some type of physical or mental challenge when it comes to traveling. Since this age population also holds 75% of the wealth, businesses are learning quickly to provide more options and means to meet their customers' needs. Just ask.
Aging, having a disability or a physical or mental challenge is no reason to prevent you from enjoying traveling. You may need to do more planning and asking for things, but that is totally worth the experiences of seeing new places, visiting distant family and friends, attending an inspiring event or just going someplace to have fun. Enjoy life!
Whether you have a temporary physical challenge or a permanent one, traveling can be viewed as something to be avoided or as a painful experience and something to never do again. From personal experience, I've had to learn how to plan my traveling plans more smartly, so I can be more comfy. Here are some ideas that may help you to keep traveling and enjoying the trip.
1. Planning is the key towards enjoying a traveling experience. Doing your homework on where you want to visit and/or stay. Knowing what you need to ask for while traveling. Knowing what you need to bring yourself, to make traveling easier is a must too.
2. Have your trips plans in writing, plan ahead, have reservation numbers and such written down and handy to get at.
3. Have all you need for medications already put into daily dosages and have a couple more days' worth than your trip lasts, in case you are stranded. If you need to take pain meds, anti-depressants, GERD, or other drugs for conditions that can flare up during traveling or a trip - make sure you have extra dosages on hand if a flare up should occur. Tell your doctor you are traveling and they can prescribe a separate prescription just for the trip that does have the extras you might need.
4. Make sure you have all of the 'equipment' you need for comfort. For instance, I travel with a cane w/seat built in (I don't use it daily but have found it very helpful on many trips), back cushion, my pillow in my luggage, I may order to have a recliner from a rent a furniture store already in my hotel room or place I'm staying for a week, ask to be put in a room or unit that doesn't require walking a mile and that is quiet. I often buy a lounging lawn chair in whatever city I'm in for my room for the week, so I have something I can sit on - many chairs in places don't work for me. I even ask to make sure my room is one that has one of the newer or a firm mattress. Plan and ask for what you need.
5. If you're traveling by air and your flight connections are close in time, make sure the airline knows you may need extra time if the flight arrives late - do this at check in. Ask for a wheelchair or cart ride to meet you when you arrive and transport you or if your flight is late, ask the stewardess to arrange it for when you depart. This saved me missing a flight once at O'Hare when my flight was late and the next flight was way across the airport. Don't be afraid to ask and do tip.
6. How to beat the discomfort of a hotel/motel: Buy a timeshare and use it for vacations anywhere by the week(s) or in a couple days worth. For me, staying in long term hotels/motels is great since there is more room and a frig which is great when you need drinks for medications for have an abnormal schedule. Even better is using timeshares, even if it means driving or taxis to get to my meeting spot, you have a complete small apartment basically and it is usually much more comfortable, roomy and easier to meet your needs.
7. Don't forget to ask for discounts due to your age or affiliation with an organization, such as AARP. Whether it's food, airfare, hotel, tickets, entrance fees, or whatever, always ask if there is a discount. Save money when and where you can, so you can use it on something else.
8. Ask. Too often people just don't ask about accommodations that could help them make their traveling experience more comfortable. There is nothing to be nervous about, nothing to feel 'ashamed' about, if you have needs, then it ultimately is up to you to ask to have those needs met. You should know too, that what you are asking for is very unlikely to be anything new or unexpected and that it will also be met with willingness to help. Just ask.
9. Often, having another person along is either necessary or helps significantly. Many times, if someone is accompanying you due to disabilities or challenges, they may go free or at a reduced rate as your helper. Here again, ask everywhere and you'll be surprised.
10. Times are changing. There are 65 Million Americans over the age of 50 and a huge proportionate of them have some type of physical or mental challenge when it comes to traveling. Since this age population also holds 75% of the wealth, businesses are learning quickly to provide more options and means to meet their customers' needs. Just ask.
Aging, having a disability or a physical or mental challenge is no reason to prevent you from enjoying traveling. You may need to do more planning and asking for things, but that is totally worth the experiences of seeing new places, visiting distant family and friends, attending an inspiring event or just going someplace to have fun. Enjoy life!
