Travel Plans with the Sick and Elderly

The whole point of taking a vacation, getting away for a bit, is to relax and have a change of pace. Some caregivers find that hard to do when they vacation with someone they are also taking care of physically. Now instead of getting away from it all they are bringing it and then some with them. Instead of being relaxed now the caregiver is even more tense. But does it have to be like that?

I recently spoke with a good friend of mine who does some traveling with her elderly aunt and she said it was all in the mind set. The attitude of the caregiver goes a long way in making an event relaxing or tension filled. How so? By not expecting to DO EVERYTHING but taking a slower more purposeful pace, enjoying the surroundings, soaking in the ambiance instead of rushing from one location to another.

Changing the routine can have marvelous benefits. You might find that time goes by slowly, the art of conversation is revived or simply sitting and people watching while sipping a creamy mug of cocoa can do wonders for both caregiver and patient.