Leaving Your Senior Loved One With a Caregiver: 4 Essential Tips

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By Janet Campbell of Elder Spark

Caring for your Senior Loved Ones when you’re Traveling

Do you have a senior loved one who needs daily assistance at home? If so, you might try to spend time with them whenever possible to help out. But what should you do if you have to head out of town for a trip?

First, consider whether they are able to join you on your trip. If so, you will likely gain some lifelong memories that'll last forever!

If not, then planning your excursion with this valuable advice can help you feel confident as you set out, and taking steps to make sure that your loved one is supported in your absence is essential. Continue reading this article to learn 4 essential tips.

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

4 Essential Tips if Leaving Your Senior Loved One with a Caregiver

1. Choosing the Right Caregiver

   Your loved one may already have a reliable caregiver. But if you need to hire one, it’s important to approach this process carefully. For instance, you’ll need to take time to interview several candidates for the job. And even if someone gives you a great first impression during their interview, Complete Check recommends conducting an online background check to verify their former employment and find out if they have a criminal record. After all, you want to be certain that your loved one’s caregiver is qualified!

2. Tracking Device

   Knowing that your loved one is being cared for by a trustworthy professional can definitely bring you peace of mind. But what if you want to ensure that you’ll also be notified immediately if there is a problem? You will want to invest in a tracking device or medical alert device. A device like this will warn you if they should wander off the property or display worrying vital signs. A standard fitness tracker could be a good option, but it might be worth looking into a device that specifically includes location tracking. 

   Alternatively, Medicare states that a medical alert system, also called a personal emergency response system, can automatically detect if your loved one falls or suffers a heart attack. The system can send details to caregivers and family members about the incident automatically. A system like this is a great choice if you’re deeply concerned about your loved one’s health. 

3. Home Inspection

   Before you leave for your trip, you should also look around your loved one’s home for any potential safety hazards. Make sure that all of the locks on the doors and windows work properly. Testing your loved one’s home security system might also be necessary. Move any items that might pose a fall risk. You may even want to spend a weekend decluttering and deep cleaning their home by yourself, or hiring a maid service to handle this job. 

4. Line of Contact

   Finally, talk to your loved one and their caregiver about setting up an open line of contact that they can use to reach you at any time. If you’re going abroad, you’ll need to check in with your cellular provider to ensure that you will get phone service during your trip. Let your loved one and their caregiver know that they are free to call or text you at any time. You may even want to designate a specific time each day for a scheduled phone call — it’s always nice to have an update from your loved one!

   When you help take care of your senior loved one, leaving them at home for even a few days while you travel elsewhere can be nerve-wracking. Naturally, you only want to know that your loved one will be safe and comfortable in your absence. With these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your trip while feeling assured that your loved one is well taken care of. 

Are you getting ready to book a vacation? If you want to learn more about flying, packing, or exploring new destinations, subscribe to Eat Wander Explore! 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

More Information on Traveling with Elders

Eat Wander Explore helps extended families find the best way to travel together - as a generational trip. To learn more about this service and what we recommend to help build the family bond, check out this page.

We also recommend checking out your roots by traveling to places based on your ancestry. Learn more about how to do that effectively by reading “Ancestry Travel - Tracing your Roots and Experiencing it for Yourself”.

Lastly, we provide more great ideas on how to travel when you're a caregiver to elderly parents as well. If you ever have any questions, we’ll help you find the solution that you’re looking for - just send us an email at eatwanderexplore@gmail.com.

Bradley & his father - Paradise Cove Luau, Oahu, Hawaii - circa 2011

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