allow you to experience their mental
and physical state.
However, before you even select
a location, it’s critical to understand
your parents’ basic health and factor
that into decisions about where to go
and what you do when you’re there.
Here are a few critical questions
you should ask before you select a
destination:
• Do your parents have any pre-
existing conditions (such as heart or
lung disease, or blood disorders such
as anaemia) that would make air
travel difficult?
• How mobile are your parents?
Can they navigate a city where
walking is required? Will you be able
to navigate the city with a wheelchair?
Are taxis readily available?
• Are your parents sensitive to hot
or cold weather?
• Does either parent have
continence issues? Will you need quick
access to restrooms?
• Do your parents have allergies or
other health issues (such as asthma)
that could be affected by the location
you select?
• If you’re considering a cruise, do
your parents get seasick? What type of
medical care is available on board if
your parent becomes ill?
• What dietary restrictions should
you keep in mind?
In travel, as in real estate,
it’s all about the location.
Involving your parent in selecting a
location sets the perfect tone for your
upcoming adventure: together you’ll
tackle the world!
Have a conversation with your
parents about places they want
to see. Then, compare them with
your desired locations and identify
similarities (in specific destination or
theme), and target your top two or
three locations. If a parent is confined
to a wheelchair and wants to hike Mt
Everest, well, that may be a problem
(although a guide could probably be
arranged for the right price!). Most
of the time, however, your parents
will pick a location that, with proper
planning, can be navigated by even
the most physically challenged.
If your parents are reticent about
making suggestions (or their selections
don’t really interest you), focus on
what you’re trying to get out of the
trip in order to entice them to be
excited about what you’ve picked
(trying new food, seeing new sights,
relaxing at the beach, etc.). This
process is no different from getting
your teenager excited to travel with
you.
Remember to s-s-l-l-l-o-o-o-w-w
down.
Understand that some compromise
will be necessary as you plan activities.
On my own, I can power through the
entire Louvre in a day – something
that isn’t possible while pushing my
mum in a wheelchair.
When travelling with an ageing
parent, you’ll come to realise that
everything needs to slow down. When
Mom and I travel, we start our day
later, we take more breaks, and we
stick to regular meal times (critical
to maintaining Mom’s 14 pills-a-day
schedule).
In fact, a good rule of thumb is to
take in one major site, then have a rest
period. Breaking up physical activities
with a casual meal gives you a chance
to talk about what you just saw and to
deepen your shared appreciation of
the moment.
What’s really interesting though is
that I’ve come to realise a slower pace
benefits me, too: slowing down and
relaxing while on holiday, including
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