Helpful hints for taking a vacation with your aging parents By peter mangiola Rn

Taking vacations aren’t always relaxing.  In fact, many people take vacations to escape stress only to find out there’s even more waiting for them upon arrival.  Make sure that this doesn’t happen for your next family vacation.  To better ensure that you and your parent’s next vacation is a good one, try taking these tips.

1. Be on top of medication - Before you leave for vacation, be certain that your parents have more than enough medication for the duration of the trip. It’s better to be safe with how much you bring in case of flight delays or any other complications that cause everyone to stay longer than expected.  Another thing to be aware of is alcohol consumption.  You don’t want alcohol to interfere with the medications.
2. Focus on relaxation - The most important thing for you to do on the trip is to focus on relaxation.  And yes, it is achievable even with your parents there!  So that means it’s not about how many activities you can schedule during the trip, but about enjoying the time you spend with the people you love.  Chances are that your parents have a limit for how many activities they can physically stand, so schedule lightly.  Lying out on the beach or going to shows or musical events are great, non-physical ways to spend your time.
3. Traditions - By now, your family has dozens of traditions that you enjoy.  Indulge on the traditions that please your parents, but also create new ones.  That way, everyone has something familiar to look forward to and also has a chance to make new memories.