Elderly travelers should make sure they pack all of their medications and other important documents. It is possible that they will also need a portable heart monitor and blood pressure monitor, depending on their age. These items will enable them to feel more confident when on tour. A good idea is to get photocopies copies of any important documents. You can ask your tour agent to assist you with this. The copies they have will provide them with peace of mind and could prove useful in any future litigation.
Pre-travel counseling
Due to certain medical conditions, elderly travelers might need additional preparations before they travel. Travel can be made more difficult by chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. These people can get pre-travel counseling that will help them prepare for travel.
Comorbidities
Older travelers could be exposed to major risks from comorbidities. These conditions can make it more difficult for seniors to get certain diseases. For example, older people are more likely to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, and other comorbidities. In addition, the risk of death in older people is increased by comorbidities. Older people with these conditions are more likely have longer stays in hospital than their peers.
Safety
Senior travelers need to take precautions when traveling to ensure their safety. Falls are one of the most dangerous. According to World Health Organization, falls are the second most common cause of accidental deaths. Older travelers should be aware of the dangers of pickpocketing, and crime. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office also offers safety tips to help older travellers avoid these problems.
Pre-travel immunizations
Pre-travel vaccinations should be considered for older travelers. Immune system aging affects vaccine efficacy and can lead to delayed or decreased immune response. Vaccines can also be adversely affected by aging.
Older travelers are more susceptible to severe and fatal infections by YEL-AVD
YEL-AVD is a severe illness that is similar to the wild-type disease YF. It is an infection that spreads via a virus and can cause multi-organ failure or even death. In 2001, the first cases of this disease were reported.
YEL-AVD
One study found a strong link between the risk of YF vaccination and YEL-AVD in elderly travelers. Study of 239 elderly travellers in a travel clinic revealed that 36.8% had plans to travel into an endemic area and 23.0% had not been immunized. Among them, one patient had a contraindication to YF vaccine.
Tips for planning a trip with an elderly parent
It can be difficult to plan a trip for an elderly parent. However, there are some tips that you can use to make the trip go as smoothly as possible. First, make sure that your elderly parent is happy to go on the trip. Avoid activities that can make your parent jittery. They may also be unable to travel long distances by airplane or car. Another tip is to allow them time to rest when they are tired.