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SOURCE: The CareGiver Partnership

With a little planning and these tips from The CareGiver Partnership, traveling with a senior family member, or someone with limited mobility or other physical challenges, can be more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone, according to Founder Lynn Wilson.

Neenah, Wis. (PRWEB) December 12, 2012

Holidays and travel often go hand in hand, and both can cause stress, exhaustion and illness, says Lynn Wilson, Founder of The CareGiver Partnership, a national retailer of incontinence products and other home health care supplies for seniors and caregivers.

“From sitting for prolonged periods, to eating different foods, to the holiday hustle and bustle, holiday travel can take its toll, especially if you’re traveling with an older loved one who needs special care,” says Wilson. “The key to success is in planning, so consider the following ways to prepare for the holiday season.”

•     It’s helpful to keep a list of health care supplies — such as incontinence and skin care products, diabetes supplies, hearing aids and more — and stock up before a trip.
•     Patients and caregivers should pack extra medication and ask about side effects, such as when combined with alcohol or certain types of foods.
•     Seniors who use the My Health Phone can keep medication reminders, electronic copies of medical directives and emergency contact information on their devices for additional safety while traveling.
•     Most airlines offer priority check-in and boarding and on-board wheelchair availability for passengers with special needs. It’s helpful to allow for longer connection times between flights and arrange wheelchair or cart transportation between terminals or gates.
•     When driving with someone who’s elderly or disabled, allowing time for frequent stops for eating, stretching and using a restroom makes a trip more enjoyable.
•     Support stockings are a simple, inexpensive way to manage leg pain or numbness, which is common when seniors sit for prolonged periods.
•     Whether driving or flying, frequent walking breaks also can help keep blood moving in legs and feet.
•     Seniors managing incontinence often are uncomfortable staying at others’ homes. Items to keep on hand include high-absorbency adult diapers for long trips, absorbent bed pads for a worry-free night’s rest and incontinence briefs that fit more like underwear for everyday activities.
•     Hotels can accommodate needs through first-floor rooms, adjoining rooms, rooms close to elevators, or special accommodations for wheelchairs.
•     Daily living aids give seniors more independence while on holiday. Because packing light can result in less physical strain and lower airline fees, easy-to-transport items, such as a CarCaddie or BedCaddie, are good choices.
•     Constipation is common during travel — sometimes due to sitting for longer periods or eating unhealthy foods — but drinking plenty of water and nutrition shakes, eating healthfully and stretching can help prevent it.
•     Keeping a slower pace on a vacation, including designated rest periods, can help reduce stress for everyone.

For a library of articles of interest to caregivers and seniors, visit The CareGiver Partnership blog. Or watch the included video to learn how you can get a free catalog and $60 worth of coupons.

The CareGiver Partnership is a national direct-to-consumer retailer of home healthcare products for incontinence, diabetes, nutrition support and more. In its sixth year of providing products and services that help caregivers and loved ones maintain personal dignity, the company also offers an online library of more than 1,200 family caregiver resources and personal service by experts in caregiving. Call 1-800-985-1353 or visit online at http://www.caregiverpartnership.com.

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