9 Useful Tips for Caregiver Travel Companions
What comes to mind when you think of travel and destinations? Sunshine, fresh air. Perhaps new foods and places. Adventure!
Sounds outright fun. But for caregivers who are travel companions, these rewards take second place
What comes first? The patient and their needs.
Escorted outings and travel can be long or short, depending on the patient’s itinerary. It can be as simple as a weekend afternoon barbeque with friends or an 18-hour flight to an international destination. Whatever the purpose, keep in mind that you are meeting the patient's inherent need to socialize and explore their environment, both of which consequently contribute to their well-being.
Whether this is your first time or you’re a travel guru who just wants to make sure all bases are covered, here's a to-do list for you as a caregiver travel companion:
1. Ensure that the patient's primary physician gave a thumbs-up for their trip. If you are with an agency, the supervisor will provide you with a copy of the doctor's permission. You will receive special instructions regarding their medications, precautions such as allergies, and their needs for breaks to prevent circulation problems.
2. Plan ahead. This step is crucial. If you do not anticipate what the patient needs while away, your trip will be exhausting as you try to find what you missed.
a. Do plenty of research about the destination.
b. Prepare your transport and accommodations ahead of time and inform the terminal or airport of your patient’s needs, such as boarding assistance or special assistive devices like a wheelchair.
c. Take a picture of all important documents and identification that may be needed, so if they are lost, you have something handy to refer to.
d. Ensure an ample supply of prescription medications as well as some over-the-counter ones for common ailments like headache and constipation.
e. Prepare a small bag of essentials with the patient's medications, travel documents, a bottle of water, snacks, a book, a sweater, and incontinent pads and portable commode if applicable. Put this bag within easy reach.
f. Pack an extra pair of eyeglasses and spare batteries for their hearing aids, if applicable.
g. For foreign or far-away destinations, and if your patient has confusion or thinking difficulties, provide the patient with a wearable GPS device or a wristband with your name and contact number on it. It might come in handy!
h. If you are involved in the planning of the travel itinerary, do not overschedule or else you risk overtiring the patient.
3. On the day of travel:
a. Bring pillows for comfort if traveling by car.
b. Leave earlier and allow plenty of time for bathroom breaks.
c. Check the doctor's instructions for how frequent breaks should be, especially for long drives or long travel by air. Usually, patients need to stand or move about every two hours.
4. Upon arrival and throughout the trip:
a. Never leave a patient unattended because they may require assistance at any time.
b. Ensure that the patient is adequately hydrated and keep meals as close to the schedule as possible. With new things to see on the way and the excitement of the adventure, the patient may forget about or disregard thirst or hunger.
c. Help the patient take their medications on time.
d. Always safety keep in mind, for both of you. If an activity is too dangerous, explain the hazard to the patient properly and discourage them from joining.
e. Touch base with your agency at designated call times. Use this time to report on the patient’s health conditions.
5. Lastly, talk with the patient and enjoy the trip with them, especially if they do not have companions other than you. Keep conversation meaningful and fun, and don’t be afraid to create lasting memories. And laughing with the patient is definitely allowed!
