QUESTION: I’m inquisitive about discovering some kind of journey escort service to assist my aged mother and father fly throughout the nation. My son is getting married within the fall and would love for my mother and father to attend, however they’re each of their 80s with well being points, in order that they’ll need assistance getting there. Are you able to direct me to any journey companies that may assist us?
ANSWER: Touring may be difficult beneath one of the best circumstances, however for seniors with medical issues, bodily limitations or dementia, it may be unmanageable. Fortuitously, a bevy of firms present touring companion/escort companies to assist older adults with the pains of journey.
A very good journey escort can present your mother and father with transportation to and from the airport, handle their baggage, navigate and help them by way of the airport, sit subsequent to them on the flight, assist them to their resort and far more.
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Some companion companies even present private care, reminiscent of treatment administration, dressing, bathing and feeding. And for these with particular medical wants, touring nurse companies can be found, too.
However these companies aren’t low cost. You’ll pay for the journey companion’s tickets, the companion’s resort room, if mandatory, meals, incidentals and costs for the service. The value to accompany a consumer on a airplane journey inside america — together with the companion charges and journey prices for all events — can vary anyplace from $2,500 to $5,000 or extra, relying on the flight transfers and size of the journey.
To find a journey companion service in your space, search on-line for “senior journey companion” or “senior journey escort,” adopted by your dad or mum’s metropolis or state. Or use an skilled nationwide service, reminiscent of Flying Companions (FlyingCompanions.com), Journey Helpers (GoTravelHelpers.com) or FirstLight Dwelling Care (FirstLightHomeCare.com), which has a nationwide community of franchises that gives in-home take care of seniors and affords journey companion applications in about 80% of their 190 working territories.
Or, for medical journey companions, do a seek for “touring nurse escort” or “medical journey companion,” or take a look at Journey Care and Logistics (YourFlightNurse.com), which supplies registered nurses as escorts.
If, nonetheless, your mother and father don’t require a number of help, or if you happen to can’t afford a journey escort, think about asking a trusted member of the family or buddy that has some air journey expertise.
Vet the service: When you’re inquisitive about hiring a journey companion service, it’s worthwhile to examine into quite a few issues to make sure you get the correct escort.
First, if you happen to mother and father require private or medical care whereas touring, discover out if the escort is educated to handle their well being care wants. What kind of medical certifications have they got? (Nursing credentials? C.P.R. coaching? and so on.)
Additionally, learn how many journeys the companion has taken with shoppers. Have they accomplished journeys with vacationers like your mother and father? How lengthy has the journey service firm been in enterprise? What’s the firm’s security file? And what kind of insurance coverage does it carry, and what precisely is roofed?
Additionally, get a quote breaking down precisely what you’ll be required to pay, along with the companion’s charges. And get an inventory of two or three shoppers/references who’ve used the service and name them.
Jim Miller is editor of the Savvy Senior. Ship your senior inquiries to Savvy Senior,
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