Great things to pack when travelling with elderly parents

Travelling with elderly parents or relatives can bring additional challenges to a holiday plan. In this guide, we will help you to pack and prepare for the trip, giving you peace of mind.

If you have questions about caring for an elderly parent during travel or holidays, and would prefer to speak to us in person, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using our contact information.

What are your parents’ needs?

Before you begin to fill your suitcases, think about what your parents’ needs are. Do they have mobility issues? Will you be doing certain activities on the holiday that you have to bring things for? What clothing will they need for the weather?

We have broken down the next part into sections. For each need, we have listed items we would recommend packing or having with you on the trip.

• Mobility
• Dining
• Activities
• Weather
• Safety

Mobility

Some elderly people require accommodation that is capable of helping people get around easily if they find mobility difficult. Ramps instead of stairs, lifts and elevators between floors, wheelchair access and railings – these can all be extremely valuable when travelling with elderly parents. You will have checked the place you are staying before you travel, but here are some things you can bring with you to help*:

• Walking stick
• Crutches
• A walking frame
• Wheelchair
• Mobility scooters

*Equipment that can fold for easier storage is always advisable if you plan to travel with it.

Dining

Eating on holiday can involve more dining out. Even if you choose to stay within your accommodation, there might not be the right utensils around you to help elderly people to eat in comfort. Packing things to make meal times as easy as possible is a great idea, and they shouldn’t take up too much space either. Some examples are:

• Adapted cutlery
• Beakers
• Reusable drinking straws
• Uniflow straws – they have a valve in the base which keeps the liquid in the straw between sips
• Bibs to protect clothing

Activities

Depending on your holiday destination, elderly parents might need items to help them make the most of activities available, or things to do while they are away in general. This is a list of both types:

• Games and puzzle books
• Puzzles
• Books and magazines
• Floats for the water/swimming
• Outdoor games (bats and balls)
• Speakers for music
• Favourite films if a player is available
• Tablets or gaming devices
• Binoculars
• Walking guides and maps

Weather

This might seem like the most obvious thing to consider for a holiday, but the elderly tend to feel changes in the weather more than younger people. Make sure you have prepared:

• Waterproof clothing
• Sensible (and comfy) footwear
• Blankets or pillows for staying warm in wheelchairs or while relaxing
• Sun protection
• Hats and umbrellas for rain or shade

Safety

If your elderly parents have dementia or become easily confused, it could be a good idea to take extra precautions to keep them safe. This is especially important if you are travelling to somewhere unfamiliar to all of you. Other items to pack for safety reasons are:

• Location devices
• Clearly labelled medication storage
• A card with emergency details for your parents to keep on them

The lists included in this piece can be adapted depending on your holiday and parents’ needs but should give you an idea of some items that will make your holiday much easier.

Travel assistance from Cavendish Homecare

We can help you with travel, at home and abroad. We can assist with travel plans, holiday care and all our services and prices are bespoke, to you and your requirements. Benefits include:

• Assistance with repatriation
• Help with assessing private healthcare in the UK
• Registered nurses and carers to accompany you on holidays
• Highly trained and professional registered nurses and carers
• Total discretion
• Trustworthy support 24/7

To find out more, visit our Holiday Care Support page or get in touch.

Are you looking for home care for yourself or a loved one? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Cavendish Homecare using our contact us page.