Elderly travelers should ensure that they bring all medications and any other important documents. It is possible that they will also need a portable heart monitor and blood pressure monitor, depending on their age. Having these items on hand will allow them to feel more confident while on tour. A great idea is to take photocopies of 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
Certain health conditions can make travel more challenging for seniors. Traveling can be difficult for people with chronic conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. 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 seniors more susceptible to certain diseases. Older people are more susceptible to developing atherosclerotic heart disease, chronic lung disease, and other complications. In addition to increasing the risk of dying in old age, people with comorbidities are more likely be admitted to hospital for longer periods of time than people younger.
Safety
Senior travelers should be aware of the dangers involved in traveling. Among the most common risks are falls. According to the World Health Organization falls are the second leading cause accidental death. Pickpocketing and other crimes are also a concern for older travellers. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office offers information that will help older travellers avoid these problems in addition to safety precautions.
Pre-travel immunizations
Pre-travel vaccinations are recommended for seniors traveling. Immune system aging affects vaccine efficacy and can lead to delayed or decreased immune response. Aging also increases risk of adverse effects of vaccines.
YEL-AVD more likely to cause severe and fatal infection in elderly travelers
YEL - AVD is a severe form of the wild-type disease, YF. This is caused by a virus which spreads throughout the body, eventually causing multiorgan failure and death. 2001 was the year that the first cases were reported.
YEL-AVD
One study revealed a strong connection between the risk of YF vaccine and YEL/AVD in older travelers. A study of 239 people aged 60 and over in a clinic for travel found that 36.8% planned to travel to an area with endemic disease, while 23.0% had never been immunized. One patient had a contraindication against the YF shot.
Tips for traveling 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, ensure that your elderly loved one is happy to take the trip. You can avoid activities that may make your elderly parent jittery if possible. They might not enjoy long car rides or flying by air. Another tip is to allow them time to rest when they are tired.