As your elderly family member’s caregiver, you may feel sometimes that she’s making decisions that are different from what you would prefer for her. For instance, she may feel that she absolutely must travel during a pandemic, and that might make you feel uncomfortable.
Lots of Places Are Easing up on Travel Restrictions
Places your senior may regard as destinations, both near her and across the world, have eased up on travel restrictions. If she’s determined to travel, it’s vital to first examine what’s going on in terms of the coronavirus in those areas. A destination that is experiencing increasing numbers is probably not the best choice. Destinations that have extremely low infection numbers may be a better choice, with some caveats.
Is the Trip Urgent?
How urgent is this trip for your senior? Just wanting to get away may not be the best reason for her to continue with travel plans, even if she’s been planning a getaway for a while. If this is a trip that can reasonably be postponed for another time, that is a very good idea. Your senior may not be happy about this option, but you may want to talk about it.
Is Your Senior Willing to Take Precautions?
Even while traveling, maintaining social distancing is important. Many places, including airports and hotels, are very serious about helping their passengers and guests feel safe. Your senior will need to wash her hands often, or at the very least use plenty of hand sanitizer during her travels. It’s also a very good idea for her to wear a cloth face mask out in public. Some places require a mask in public, so it’s important to research those requirements.
There Are a Lot of Factors to Consider
If your elderly family member is likely to be around people who are at high risk from Covid-19 or if she herself is high risk, staying at home is probably the better option. Ultimately, she has to assess the risk for herself. There may also be quarantine requirements in place at her destination or in her home area. Both can create complications for your senior in terms of other obligations or situations she wants to participate in. These quarantine periods are often a minimum of 14 days.
It’s not just a matter of making travel plans and going right now. The coronavirus pandemic means that some things your elderly family member may have taken for granted, such as being able to travel at will, are different right now.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Red Lodge, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
