What is your ideal summer vacation? A time for relaxation or maybe a family reunion? Sightseeing or adventure? As a family caregiver, you might be thinking that travel plans are out of the question due to the care needs of your loved one.

But before you toss those travel brochures into the trash, here are some travel ideas that just might inspire you to start packing.

To start, Candy Harrington, author of “Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers” suggests families list all their “what if” questions. What if the airline breaks Joe’s wheelchair? What if I lose his prescription? What if I get sick while we are on the road?

The best way to combat this undue stress is think up solutions to your biggest “what if” scenarios in advance, Harrington says. “For example, if you are worried about wheelchair damage, then do some research and find a wheelchair rental and repair place in your destination city before you hit the road.”

She says it also pays to learn the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed by Congress in 1990, mandates transportation systems, public facilities, employers and others make their services accessible for persons with disabilities.

Harrington explains, “Under ADA, if a hotel offers a free airport shuttle, they must also provide a free accessible airport shuttle. They don’t have to own one, but they can contract for one and they can’t charge the passenger for this.”

After identifying your concerns, it’s time to begin your research. In addition to considerations about travel, keep in mind the specific health concerns of your loved one.

You’ll also want to check into your loved one’s health insurance coverage to learn what special restrictions or guidelines might be in place regarding travel out of your home area.

Books such as “Anyone Can Travel: The Essential Guide for Seniors, People with Disabilities, Health Problems and All Travelers” by Melba Rous et al (Trafford Publishing 2000) can offer helpful guidelines for all travelers. National health organizations and advocacy groups such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimer’s Association are excellent sources of information on travel needs for people with specific health conditions.

For learning about your vacation destination, most travel guidebooks include at least some information about the accessibility of hotels, restaurants and popular tourist sites.

It is always wise however to call ahead and learn exactly what is meant by any business using the word “accessible.”

You will also want to research the method of travel that you’ll be using. Airlines and cruise companies post policies and guidelines for travelers on their websites. Enabled RVer is a website offering tips on how to outfit your vehicle to be accessible and how to locate accessible-friendly campsites.

Additionally, there are a variety of services available to assist family caregivers and their loved ones in their travel goals. Some of the services range from travel escorts with medical training to cruises designed for caregivers and their loved ones to specialty travel agents who promote their services in planning trips for individuals with particular conditions or health care needs.

Is it worthwhile to pay for these services? Harrington says, “If the person indeed is an expert in accessible travel, they are worth their weight in gold; however there are a lot of quasi experts out there. Be forewarned there is no “official” designation of “accessible travel expert”, so you really need to investigate the training and experience of any person who claims such a designation.”

One area where Harrington feels extra expense is justified is the provision of assistance for the caregiver. “It’s hard to have a good time if you are exhausted from pushing a wheelchair all day or bathing and dressing someone every morning. Consider hiring a companion to go with you or contact a nursing agency at your destination. Alternatively you might be able to pay the way of another family member in exchange for some personal care duties. It’s well worth the investment to be able to put your feet up and enjoy your holiday a bit.”

Those words ring true with Susan Alcorn, a 47-year-old woman living in Sicklerville, New Jersey, who has lived life on both sides of the equation — as a caregiver as well as an individual living with disability. As she says, “Caregivers often forget about the most important person: themselves.”

Alcorn, who travels two to three times a year, has spent the better part of the past 10 years in bed or a wheelchair due to bone disease. She underwent her 51st surgery in January 2003 and is now learning to walk once more. She says, “I can’t stress the importance of taking care of the caregiver. Get some quiet time, take in a show, go to the theme park without the stress of taking your loved one with you. Even when caregivers are not “on duty”, the concerns for a loved one are always on the caregiver’s mind. Taking care of someone else is a huge responsibility. It’s physically as well as mentally challenging. Being mindful of that when planning a trip makes all the difference in the world.”

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Unfortunately not everyone is in a condition capable of travel, but Caregiver’s Home Solutions can help!  Our home care experts can help you arrange Respite Care services for your loved one in the comfort of their own home and at their convenience!  Please call Caregiver’s Home Solutions now at (203)870-9850 to receive a free consultation from our home care experts and learn how we can help give you the peace of mind needed to leave your loved one in our care and take some much deserved time for yourself!