Seniors, Caregivers and Vacation Planning

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Caring Workplace Monthly Newsletter: August 2005

Seniors, Caregivers and Vacation Planning
Brought to you by the Caring Workplace

With the end of summer and a holiday weekend approaching, the staff at St. Andrew’s wanted to share some tips for caregivers who are preparing for a vacation.

The fact is that taking a vacation requires more planning if you are a caregiver. If your loved one lives with you it is necessary to coordinate your trip with another family member who can take over responsibilities. Other options would be to hire in-home or residential Respite Care. The decision about in-home vs. residential services can depend on a number of factors such as your loved one’s health care needs, cost of care, and comfort level with having someone in your home as opposed to having your loved one in a residential care setting.

If your loved one is in a retirement community, assisted living, or skilled nursing facility, it is important to make the community where they reside aware of your plans. The staff should be given contact numbers and an itinerary for your vacation along with a local contact, if available, who can take care of the little things that might come up in your absence.

If you assist your loved one with shopping, transportation, meal preparation, medication management, financial planning, or any other aspects of their care it is important that you discuss your plans with them and take care of these details in advance. If it is an option, ask someone else to take over these responsibilities in your absence.

If your loved one is going to be joining you on vacation there are several factors to consider. First of all, keep in mind that this means you will have to continue to handle many of the responsibilities of caregiving that you had at home. Ask yourself if this is the type of vacation you want to have as opposed to taking some time to get away from your responsibilities. If your loved one will be joining you there are things you can do to make traveling go more smoothly. Make sure to bring a list of medications as well as physician’s contact information in case of an emergency. If your loved one has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, it might be helpful to contact the Alzheimer’s Association to discuss travel tips. Be sure to allow adequate time for rest and relaxation. Remember to pace yourself. If it is going to be a very active day that includes a lot of walking or standing, make sure everyone stays hydrated and can take a break when needed. Also, be sure to schedule time for individuals to pursue their specific interests. One person’s idea of a vacation may be to lounge at the pool with a good book, while another might want to hit every local shop in sight. As a caregiver it is especially important to take time for yourself. Remember as you are planning your vacation that you want to come home well rested as opposed to feeling like you need another break.

Be sure to take plenty of pictures to share with your loved one when you return. If they do not accompany you on your vacation this will be a nice way for them to feel involved and sharing your memories is a wonderful way to spend time with someone. If you have time drop them a postcard. If not, keep a mental journal of the trip and be sure to share the highs and lows with them.

We hope that everyone stays safe and enjoys these last days of summer. With proper planning your vacation can be the relaxing getaway that you truly deserve!

If you have any questions or needs related to caregiving, please contact St. Andrew’s Caring Workplace. Our team of professionals will be happy to assist you in any way that we can.

For more information regarding your caregiving needs contact Heather O’Brien, your ElderCare Specialist at 314-802-5106

Need Advice? Ask Our Eldercare Specialist
A St. Andrew's Eldercare
Specialist is available to
answer your questions
about caring for an aging loved one.

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Caring Workplace: The Resource for Working People Caring for an Older Adult.
6633 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63130 Phone: 314-802-6291 Fax: 314-726-5719 e-mail