By John Nicolette, P.T.
As the holiday season rapidly approaches, airports and supermarkets are bound to bustle with excitement. From flying out of sunny Southwest Florida to visit family, to buying decor and ingredients to make a tasty Thanksgiving feast, families are deep into planning their family reunions for the holidays. Last year, AAA predicted that roughly 55 million Americans would travel by car, plane, cruise or bus for Thanksgiving and that 115 million Americans would travel for the winter holidays.
Seeing our loved ones and celebrating the holidays is an exciting time, especially for older adults who value having their family together in one room. Through the excitement, older adults should make their safety a priority when preparing for the holidays, even if they choose to spend the holidays at home instead of hopping on a flight.
Safe travels
While we’re all looking forward to arriving at our holiday destinations, taking the proper precautions is the first step toward getting there. For older adults who plan to travel throughout the rest of the year, schedule a standard appointment with your health care provider about two months before traveling to ensure that any required health checks or vaccinations required for travel are fulfilled before your departure date. Also, provide a copy of your itinerary to a close friend or family member before you leave, especially if traveling alone. The itinerary should include your destination, hotel or address for your trip, length of stay and your contact information.
If traveling internationally is on your bucket list this year, consider purchasing additional health insurance that includes medical evacuation in case you need to make an unanticipated return to the United States while traveling.
It’s also important to remain alert when traveling. Choose safe methods of transportation, pay close attention to your surroundings, wear your seatbelt and keep an eye on road signs. Lastly, pack your medications – if you take any – in your carry-on or personal item, not your checked luggage. If your luggage is lost or delayed, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your required medications are right within your reach, not in the belly of the airplane.
A decorative touch
Like most holidays, the fall and winter months come hand-in-hand with home decorations, especially for the beloved holidays. Local retail stores have already started to overflow with decorations and loading them all into your shopping cart is tempting. When purchasing decorations, consider what you’ll be able to physically handle setting up. If it’s something that you really want but can’t execute on your own, ask for help when setting it up in your home – don’t take unnecessary risks.
As decorating ensues, make sure you’re working in a safe environment. Clear the floor of any loose items, like gifts or loose decor, and check your strands of string lights prior to hanging for any exposed or frayed wires or sockets. Also, place decorations within arm’s reach to prevent losing your balance. If you would like to hang decorations out of your own reach, like at the top of the tree or on your front door, enlist the help of friends or family.
The holiday season brings families together year after year, creating an environment for sentimental memories, travel experiences of a lifetime and quality time with loved ones. To preserve the delight that the holidays bring each year, it’s important to practice safe routines when traveling, decorating and preparing to spend the holidays with your loved ones.
About the author
John Nicolette, P.T. is the director of Senior Choice at Home, a membership-based life plan at home program for healthy, independent seniors in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
