Question 

I am wondering if my mother and I are safe to travel together this summer. I want to take her on an adventure one last time and hope that I will cover all of the bases to make sure we have an uneventful trip.  

We do not live in the same region of the country, so I am not spending much time with her on a regular basis. How do I best prepare for this trip? 

By way of background, mom is 82 years old. She takes medication for blood pressure and some other health issues. She walks around without a device, though she does not move as quickly as I do. 

Before I start booking flights, I want to know what I should avoid and how I should prepare for mom to be with me. 

Answer 

When you travel with a parent in their 80s you will need to take into consideration their abilities, routines, diet, health situation, and rest times much like you do for children. It will not be too difficult, and the preparation will be well worth it. 

Start by collecting information about your mother. You will need to discover her activity tolerance. Can she hike 10 miles, stroll around a town for hours, or is she limited to short distances of a block or two before she needs to sit and rest? Since you do not see her often, speak with someone who she spends time with on a regular basis. Her activity tolerance is likely going to be limited to what she currently does, with maybe just a bit more on a good day. Once you know her activity tolerance, you can begin to plan location and activities for you and your mother.  

Next, find out what her health conditions are and the medication she is taking. Plan to have enough of each medication for the trip. If you are traveling outside of the country, most insurance plans will not cover her outside of her home country, though each plan is different. If she does not have coverage where you plan to go, she will need to purchase an extra policy for the trip. Ambulance-type flights are very expensive. Bring along her medical history and doctor phone numbers. A checkup with her doctor before your trip is not a bad idea. 

If taking flights, you can request assistance in the airport and early boarding. She can leave her shoes on when going through security. Do pack light. You may find yourself hauling her luggage and yours. Consider the time between flights if you cannot fly directly. 

When booking hotels, you may want to consider asking for an accessible room. They will have large bathrooms, grab bars, and walk in showers. She will be less secure in a new location, so safety features could matter. 

Take into consideration activities that you will enjoy doing together when you are making vacation plans. Look for one activity each day that you will both enjoy. You may consider solo activities also if that suits your personalities. 

Most travel involves walking more than usual. Airports are vast, there is usually some sightseeing, and one tends to move about more. I strongly recommend sturdy, well-designed hiking or tennis shoes that are extremely comfortable for your mother when out and about. Being sure-footed is essential for having a safe trip.  

Consider a cane that has a seat as a potential walking aid. While your mother does not usually use a cane, it can come in handy and increase her endurance. It also can be a place to perch if she suddenly finds herself spent. Some individuals like having a rolling walker with a seat to grab onto in unsteady situations. 

Help your mother with packing by giving her a list of necessities. It is a wonderful way to make sure that neither of you don’t forget an essential and are scrambling later to locate that item in an unfamiliar location. When planning what to pack, she needs comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes. 

Lastly, pick a location that you both have a high level of interest in going to. You will both have more fun that way. The best part of travel is the anticipation before and the stories and memories you have after. I wish you a safe and adventure-filled journey that the two of you will talk about for years to come.