Airline Travel Tips for Seniors by Elly Kleinman

Traveling by plane can be hard on the body, especially for seniors. Their bodies cannot resist like before, the long walks in the terminals, disrupted meal times and many hours sitting in a closed, crowded environment.

However, there is a solution that can make the plane trip easier for seniors. The founder and CEO of the New York based company Americare, Elly Kleinman, shares some simple tips for senior on how to prepare for their next trip by plane. By following these tips, seniors can have a more comfortable and healthier flying experience.

Preflight Planning

For more comfortable and pleasant travel, Kleinman suggests packing light. Before you board, check your all baggage and take the minimum amount through airport security and onto the plane. Wearing comfortable shoes and clothing is highly recommendable. Additionally, if possible, take an aisle seat that allows an easy access to the bathroom and allows you to move easily during the flight.

Airplane Travel Aids

Kleinman recommends wearing noise-reduction headphones and travel pillow. These items can create more relaxing environment, especially on long flights. Wear compression stockings in and slip them on after boarding. This will help you to reduce the risk of blood clots. Moreover, wearing a nose-and-mouth guard or mask in-flight can help reduce exposure to infectious, airborne bacteria.

Food

Packing in anticipation a snack bar or other foods can be a life-saver in situation of unexpected delays. For seniors on medication or who need to manage chronic health issues such as diabetes, it is highly commendable to study the in-flight meal schedule prior to boarding and prepare accordingly. Kleinman indicates that it is extremely important purchasing bottled water once through security and keep it handy during the flight. This will prevent dehydration and combat jet lag.

Medication

In order to avoid having medications confiscated, the best is to bring a doctor's note confirming any needed medication. In Kleinman's opinion, a smart thing that you should do is to prepare an in-flight medication schedule. This will assure you to take the right medicines at the right times, particularly if crossing multiple time zones. You can bring a pill organizer to help you keep to the schedule.

By following these simple tips by the healthcare professional, Elly Kleinman, seniors can make air travel more pleasant and less taxing on their body. This will contribute to making the whole traveling experience more enjoyable and leaving the senior in better physical and psychical condition to enjoy the rest of the trip.