Getting Together Again Over the Holidays
The lights are up, the shopping is done (well, almost) and it’s time to take the dog to the kennel, put gas in the car for the over-the-river-and-through-the-woods trip, or wrangle the whole family off to the airport.
That’s right: we’re getting together again for the holidays!
It has been a weird couple of years, so let’s take a moment to review safe driving tips for older adults, to revisit some issues you might face when traveling with senior loved ones, and to consider ways that travel — and local rules in areas you may be traveling to — might have changed in the wake of COVID-19.
First, along with National Influenza Vaccination Week — you got that done, right? — December is also the home of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. We understand that safe driving can be a difficult topic to address with people who have been driving since before you were born. Please download the Keeping Seniors Safe on the Road informational PDF linked below, which includes a list of non-judgmental questions that can help get the conversation started. Have your older loved ones noticed any scratches or dents on the car? Have they had any near-miss experiences lately — even ones they didn’t cause? Are they on new medications that make them feel less confident in their driving? Is night vision a problem, especially now that night falls in the late afternoon?
Make sure that they understand that your concern comes from love. And while you’re asking questions, why not ask if they’d like YOU to drive to visit them instead?
If instead of a drive, you’re planning a holiday trip with the whole family — including your older loved ones — please download the Tips for a Safe & Happy Holiday Season informational PDF linked below as well. Along with reminders that the season can bring unexpected stresses for seniors and their families, this document includes a useful travel planning checklist, so you won’t forget items like medication refills, compression socks and airport escorts or wheelchairs.
Finally, if this is the first time you have traveled since the COVID quarantines, be aware that things may have changed since you last visited the bus terminal, train station, airport or your final destination. Schedules will have shifted and you may need more time to get through security. In-flight meals and snacks are now very limited. You will almost certainly need a comfortable face mask for every family member, even small children and older adults. And when you reach your destination, local regulations may require negative test results or vaccination records to access restaurants, recreational amenities and entertainment venues. Be sure to check those local regulations before you travel.
With all that said and all these precautions taken, let’s take a deep breath now and… relax. We are going to have a wonderful time with our loved ones this holiday season, because we’ve all earned it. And if you need a little extra help, remember that our compassionate caregivers are always just a 24/7 phone call away: (817) 887-9401.