December is National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month! And this year everyone needs a stress-free holiday because it’s been a tough year for almost everyone. Spending time with family and enjoying the holidays shouldn’t be stressful, but sometimes stresses creep in and put a damper on the holiday spirit. Traveling with seniors can be difficult for family members, and traveling can be tough on seniors too. In the spirit of having a Stress-Free family Holiday this year you can use these tips to make traveling with a senior loved one easier during the holiday season:

Rely on In-Home Care

In-home care for seniors is a big help during the holidays. With in-home care, seniors get the care they need at home and they will have extra help around the house for things like packing. A care provider can help your senior loved one pack for a trip, shop for gifts, wrap gifts, and do other tasks that have to get done before leaving for a holiday trip or a family holiday vacation.

Have Several Backup Plans

Planning ahead is key when you’re traveling with a senior parent. But one plan is never enough. You need to always be thinking several moves ahead and have a game plan for what to do if your senior loved one’s flight get cancelled or you have to make other travel arrangements. If you have created several backup plans in your mind and prepared for those too then you won’t have to worry. Make double hotel reservations in case one falls through. Rent a car if you need to. Know the locations of the closest urgent care and emergency rooms. Planning ahead in every possible way will ensure that your holiday goes smoothly.

Rent A Car

If you’re traveling by car with a senior parent rent a car. Most of today’s cars are not built for seniors and senior comfort. Rent a van or an SUV that has lots of room and is easy for someone with physical changes to get in an out of. Your whole family will be much more comfortable in a rented car that is created for comfort than they would be getting shoved into your family car for a very long trip. Splurge on the rented car that has the DVD player in the back so that your kids and your senior parents will be able to watch movies and stay busy while you drive.

Keep An Essentials Bag Closely At All Times

Pack a bag for your senior loved one that will stay with you at all times. This pack should contain your senior parent’s ID and any papers that they need. It should also have an MP3 player and headphones in it. Seniors who don’t enjoy traveling or are having a hard time with the trip can listen to audiobooks or music that will keep them occupied while you are driving. The essentials bag should also contain snacks, bottled waters, a sweater, a change of clothing, and other items they might need.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering in-home care in Olney, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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