The world is beginning to open up again, with people starting to travel to see loved ones, to reconnect, and to have a break. This is welcome news, as it has been an overwhelming few years for many people. Most of us could really do with a break – and traveling sounds like the perfect getaway.
However, traveling does come with extra complexities these days.
Traveling with seniors adds another layer to the process. This is particularly true for seniors with chronic health conditions, as they may need multiple types of medications, have a special diet, or have symptoms to manage.
Thankfully, there are ways to make traveling easier, like using adaptive aids for traveling and planning ahead.
So, let’s look at what you can expect in this post-COVID travel world and how you can minimize hassles as you travel.
There Are Additional Requirements
Countries vary in their COVID-19 responses and what they expect of visitors. Some have stringent entry rules, while others offer much more flexibility, especially for vaccinated travelers.
There are, however, a few places with closed borders.
Because of this, it’s best to spend some time researching the country you plan to travel to and find out what the rules are. If traveling from the U.S., a great place to start is the U.S. State Department to learn more about the country you’re visiting. The State Department also offers a wealth of specific information for older and disabled travelers, who may need to travel with assistive equipment or mobility aids, service animals, or need to secure health insurance for situations not covered by Medicare.
You May Need to Isolate
Some countries also require visitors to quarantine for 10 days or more, even if they return a negative COVID test. You’ll often need to pay all quarantine expenses yourself and these could be high.
This isn’t the norm, but it’s a reminder of why it’s so important to do your due diligence.
You May Need to be Vaccinated
Some countries require visitors to be fully vaccinated. Doing so is a wise move anyway, particularly for seniors, as vaccination reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19 and may lower severity of the illness.
If the country requires vaccinations, then you’ll need to prove your vaccination status. This involves having the right paperwork. It’s best to look into this as early as possible, as some paperwork might take a while to obtain.
You May Need to Test Negative
If you travel abroad, you may also need to return a negative COVID-19 test before departure or upon arrival.
Some countries even require two negative tests (largely to counteract the risk of false negatives). If you test positive, you may need to quarantine at your own expense while you recover.
Countries that rely on PCR COVID-19 tests for travelers may require you to quarantine at your expense while you’re waiting for the test results.
Things Are Often More Complicated, More Expensive, and Take Longer
COVID-19 has made many aspects of travel more complicated, which has led to extra steps, extra time, and higher prices.
You’ll often need to pay more for flights than you did previously, while costs in your destination country may be increased as well.
Thankfully, many airlines have adjusted their fees and cancellation policies to be more flexible. Make sure you check out the specifics first, though. This way you know what to expect if there are any problems.
Also be aware that you won’t always get a refund if you cancel your flight. Some companies default to offering vouchers and may only give a full discount in limited situations.
TravelPerk offers a comprehensive guide on the different policies and booking options for individual airlines. This is a good starting point, but you’ll still need to check with the airline, as policies can change over time.
Exchange Rates are Variable
Exchange rates always go up and down, and are partly influenced by world events. That much isn’t new.
However, COVID-19 can sometimes lead to more volatile shifts. This is something to pay attention to, as the exchange rate will influence how much local currency you receive.
Is it Safe to Travel?
The short answer here is that traveling is fairly safe, as case numbers have dropped dramatically and COVID-19 vaccinations are readily available.
However, while the COVID-19 pandemic has wound down, it certainly isn’t over. There are still cases and deaths every day, plus new variants on the horizon. Even seniors who have already had COVID-19 aren’t safe, as reinfections do occur.
Whether you wait or go now is really a personal decision. It’s a matter of weighing up the risks versus rewards in your situation.
After all, COVID-19 may be with us for a long time. Waiting until it has all blown over isn’t realistic, particularly not for seniors already in the twilight years of their lives.
Your family may also have important reasons for traveling, like attending a wedding, visiting someone sick, seeing family, or having a break from familiar places and routines. Even making new family memories is a valuable reason for getting away.
Also remember that traveling always comes with some risks, as does every aspect of life. It will never be completely safe. The trick, then, is to take the precautions that you can and avoid high risk environments.
What About Flight Safety?
There are some concerns about the safety of flying itself, as the aviation industry ground to a halt for two years. Many pilots would have flown little during the height of the pandemic, potentially reducing their proficiency. Plus, staff shortages may be contributing to overwork and staff fatigue.
Yet, accident rates haven’t increased at all. Airlines and governing authorities have also been fast to identify potential problems and work to resolve them.
As such, despite concerns, flying remains as safe as it did before the pandemic.
Tips For Keeping Yourself Safe and Healthy
While traveling is viable for many people, it does still increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. You may also be exposed to variants of the virus that you wouldn’t have seen at home.
Wear a Mask and Keep Distanced When You Can
Mask wearing and social distancing can still help to lower COVID-19 risk.
While you probably don’t want to wear a mask for your entire holiday, it’s worth doing so on the plane and in any other tightly packed environments
The other COVID-19 practices we’ve all been following still apply as well, like washing your hand regularly, not touching your mouth, eyes, and nose, and using sanitizer.
Purchase Health Insurance
Health insurance has always been a good idea, in case you get sick while traveling. It’s even more now, as COVID-19 means your risk of getting sick is higher.
Plus, COVID-19 continues to strain the healthcare system in some countries, which could make it more difficult or more expensive to get the healthcare you need. Having insurance in place helps to protect you, no matter what happens.
Find as Much Information as You Can
The more you know about the processes and expectations in your country (or countries) of choice, the less stressful your experience will be.
If you’re booking through a travel agent, they should have most of the information ready for you. But, it’s still worth double checking yourself. You don’t want to get surprised by an unexpected requirement a week or two before traveling.
Related: Dementia Friendly Hotels for Seniors and Caregivers
Recheck Details Periodically
Also make sure to keep an eye on requirements as you get close to your travel date.
This is important, as some countries make abrupt changes if new COVID-19 variants become prevalent or if case numbers suddenly rise.
Bring Anything You Might Need
It’s much better to be over-prepared for your trip than underprepared.
We’re not just talking about COVID-19 paperwork and safety approaches either. You still need to think about the regular challenges, including those related to flying with seniors.
Some things you may need include ear plugs, cough drops, an eye mask, headphones, and a neck pillow.
Don’t forget about food either. Airport food is often very expensive, unhealthy, and not filling. Bringing protein bars and nuts are particularly helpful, along with any of the senior’s favorites
Take Medications on the Plane
If you or the senior need medications, it’s much better to take these on the plane, rather than stashing them in your luggage. Luggage can get lost and it’s tough to replace medication when you’re in a foreign country.
Allow More Time Than You Need
With so many extra processes, airports can take much longer than they did before.
You need to allow for this every step of the way.
Remember that seniors are often limited in how fast they can move. They may also need transportation around the airport or assistance in some areas, which adds to the time factor.
You might even need to deal with challenges like incontinence at the airport or on the plane. Such challenges are hard enough on their own. You certainly don’t want to be dealing with them when you’re in a hurry.
Talk to the Senior’s Doctor
Finally, if you’re traveling with a senior, be sure to talk to their doctor before booking tickets. They’ll be able to highlight any areas of concern and help you decide whether traveling is a good decision.
They may also have additional tips or instructions that help the senior to stay healthy.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with seniors can be complex and COVID-19 makes things more difficult still.
This doesn’t mean that you should avoid traveling though. Most of the time you simply need to plan more carefully and allow extra time.
The single most important thing you can do is start planning early. This way you have time to find out all the requirements and meet them without stressing yourself out.
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