Traveling to new places and visiting family and friends is not only exciting, but also vital to our mental health. Travel can broaden your horizons and expose you to new ways of thinking. Visiting family and friends often helps to reduce stress and strengthens bonds between family members as there is time to gather and talk together.

When planning any sort of travel, there are some key factors to consider, especially for seniors, and the overall success of a trip depends on how well you pre-plan.

For travel vacations, look at the trip realistically. Start by taking an honest look at your mobility. Although the thought of climbing Mt. Everest may be on your bucket list, if you haven’t walked or trained, a trip such as this could result in serious injury.

Familiarize yourself with the physical demands that a particular trip may require. Balance excursions with time to rest.

Know the risks involved with being seated for a long time on planes, trains and automobiles. By 80 years old, there is a considerable risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis if sitting more than 4 hours according to the CDC. Getting up and stretching your legs once per hour is recommended. Passengers seated in window seats are less likely to get out of their seats for fear of disrupting other passengers, so book an aisle seat whenever possible.

Seniors flying at high altitudes are at higher risk of dehydration as the cabin on a plane has less humidity, so ensure that you drink plenty of water.

Pack lightly and invest in lightweight luggage. Heavy bags can contribute to lifting injuries and falls. Always carry medication with you in your carry-on and for any medication with street value use original containers and obtain a doctor’s note as an extra precaution.

Familiarize yourself with TSA rules. Some medical procedures can set off alarms, so carrying a physician’s statement/documentation is a good idea.

Lastly, have fun and make beautiful memories!

Carpe Diem!