Elderly travelers should ensure that they bring all medications and any other important documents. Depending on their age, they may also want to bring a portable health monitor and a blood pressure monitor. These items will help them feel more confident on the road. A great idea is to take photocopies of important documents. They can ask their tour agent for help. They can have copies of the documents for peace of mind, and they may be useful in future litigation.
Pre-travel counseling
Some health conditions may make it more difficult for elderly travelers to prepare properly before traveling. 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
The most serious danger to elderly travelers is the presence of co-morbidities. Certain diseases can be more dangerous for the elderly due to these conditions. As an example, people over 50 are more likely to have atherosclerotic cardiac disease, chronic pulmonary diseases, or other comorbidities. Additionally, older people are more at risk for death from comorbidities. This means that they are more likely than younger people to spend longer hospital stays.
Safety
Senior travelers should be aware of the dangers involved in traveling. Falls are one of the most dangerous. According to World Health Organization, falls are the second most common cause of accidental deaths. Older travelers need to be aware of potential pickpocketing as well as crime. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office gives information to older travelers to help them avoid these issues.
Pre-travel immunizations
Pre-travel vaccinations are recommended for seniors traveling. Immune system aging can have a negative impact on vaccine efficacy. It can cause a delayed or diminished 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 illness that is similar to the wild-type disease YF. This is caused by a virus which spreads throughout the body, eventually causing multiorgan failure and death. 2001 saw the first case of this illness.
YEL-AVD
One study demonstrated a strong association between the risk from YF vaccinations and YEL/AVD for elderly travelers. The study of 239 travellers aged 60 years and older in a travel clinic found that 36.8% had planned to travel to an endemic area, and 23.0% had traveled to the area for the first time without getting immunization. Among them, one patient had a contraindication to YF vaccine.
Tips to plan a trip for an elderly parent
While planning a trip to visit an elderly parent can seem daunting, there are tips that can help. First, ensure that your elderly loved one is happy to take the trip. If you can, try to avoid activities that will cause your parent to get jittery. They may not like long trips by car or plane. Another tip is to allow them to nap when needed.