Traveling with a sick spouse or family member can be very stressful. Planning will make the trip easier and enjoyable for everyone
Traveling with a loved one who needs some additional help can be stressful. Be sure to allow extra time to make connections and reach destinations. It is important to carry these items with you:
1. List of physician names, addresses and telephone numbers.
2. List of medical conditions, dates of surgeries
3. List of all medications and allergies to medications. Include the name of the medication, dosage and frequency.
4. Copy of health insurance cards
5. Copy of advance directives (an advance directive is a living will).
Hopefully, you will not need to think about health insurance on your trip, but just in case make a few phone calls before you leave. Ask your insurance company about out of state coverage. It is also a good idea to ask about their coverage regarding medical airplane transports. Lets assume that you are traveling with your spouse and he has a heart attack. In order to get him home, he may need to be transported by a medically staffed airplane. Some insurance companies will cover these transports and others have specific preflight authorization rules.
When traveling by air with someone who needs extra assistance, call the airline ahead of time for assistance. Tell them if you are planning on traveling with a wheelchair. Sometimes they are allowed on board the plane and other times they must be stored as luggage. Ask about additional costs. Ask the airline about the policy to assist you and your spouse at the gates, especially if you need to make connections. Travel mid-day and try to avoid flying on Monday's and at peak holiday dates. When going through metal detector devices, be sure to tell the attendant about any pacemakers or other implanted devices that would trigger an alert.
If your spouse needs to take medications, pack at least two extra days supply of medications. Carry all medications on board the plane and do not pack them in your checked in bags. Be sure that you have also packed any application devices for the devices. For example, be sure that you have tubing for nebulizers, spacers for inhalers, syringes for insulin. Be sure that inhalers are full and that they have not expired. Don't forget the ear and eye drops. Don't forget the "only as needed medications" like nitroglycerin for heart or allergy medications. Be sure to pack nonprescription drugs as well, like pain relievers. Although most hotel gift shops have them, they will be expensive.
If you are traveling with some with diabetes, be sure that you have an appropriate size snack in your carry on luggage. Do not rely on airplane food or the availability of snacks. Be sure that you have packed any glucometer supplies that will be needed.
If your spouse needs to travel with oxygen, you need to make some additional plans. Start by calling the airline. Each airline has specific regulations regarding in flight use of oxygen. You will not be able to use your own tank during the flight (you will use the airplanes). A prescription from your doctor will be required. Additional fees will be charged for in flight oxygen. Empty tanks can be packed as luggage. Be sure that you have made arrangements at your destination for filling the tanks. If you are traveling by train, similar regulations are present. Because of the oxygen needs, be sure that you have reserved a non smoking room at your hotel.
When making reservations at the hotel, tell them that you are traveling with some who needs additional help. Ask for a room that is handicap accessible. Ask for a room near the elevators to prevent long walks down the hallways. Be sure to tell them if your loved one would need assistance in case of emergency evacuation of the hotel (remember that elevators do not work during a fire).
Depending on the complexity of your loved ones medical condition, consider hiring a nurse or aid to travel with you. You can find temporary medical help through visiting nurse associations or nurse agencies. Enjoy your trip!
