What’s more fun than a trip to Grandma’s?

Vacationing with Grandma! 

One of the most pleasant sights I’ve ever seen was of a seven-year-old having the time of his life steering his grandmother in a balloon-tired wheelchair on the beach while cruising in the Caribbean.  Eavesdropping, I learned that three generations of a family were vacationing together.  How marvelous!

How nice it would be to include even older generations.  People are living longer these days.  Great  Grandparents should be able get to know and love with their younger descendants as well.

"Today's families are scattered across the country, so if you want your kids to see their grandparents, you probably have to travel," says Marion Lindblad-Goldberg, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.  “And with time off scarce, many couples prefer to go someplace fun with Grandma and Grandpa rather than just visit their parents' homes.”

Before the trip starts, get prescriptions for all the seniors’ medications filled.  Even before that though, get a clearance from their doctors and find out if the destination will require special vaccinations.

Make sure you have one day’s worth of medication, copies of prescriptions, extra eyeglasses, a snack, and a change of clothing as you travel.

For car trips, a mini-van might be more accessible for seniors than a regular car. 

If you’re flying, a wheelchair requested from the airline so an employee can help get seniors from place to place in the airport is a plus.  Ask for seat assignments in rows designated for disabled travelers for the seniors.  And if meals will be served, advise the airline beforehand regarding special dietary needs.  It’s really not a bad idea to take along an appropriate meal. 

Once at the travel destination, try to keep mealtimes, bedtimes and medication schedules as close to the regular routine as possible for the seniors even if you are traveling across time zones.  This is especially important if your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s.  You may want to bring a few favorite objects from home to minimize the confusion of being in an unfamiliar environment.  And if your loved one has a caregiver or aide, you may want to include them on the trip as well to help make the trip more enjoyable.

Make sure your plan takes into account a variety of ages, energy levels, and interests.  Try mixing things up to help family members get to know each other better.  Have a storytelling hour.  Children love to hear stories about when their parents or grandparents were children.  Grandpa may have a great time taking the kids to hunt for seashells while the rest of the family is visiting a museum or shopping at the mall.  Great Grandma may be a soothing and delighted baby sitter as the younger children watch the sunset. 

Make sure there’s plenty for everyone to do.  Besides being a bonding experience, multigenerational trips can be a lot of fun if you plan ahead. 

Norma Nixon Schofield

nschofield@abc-seniors.com

As always, Always Best Care is here to help, offering a 'bigger picture' philosophy, ABC's reputation is built on providing one of the highest levels of individualized and customized care in today's market. Besides regular in-home care, we are able to supplement the temporary needs of people wherever they find themselves needing help.  For the full story visit our site at: www.alwaysbestcarewesternct.com or call us at (203) 262 6170.