Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 50 and up plan to travel in 2024, according to this AARP survey. Whether it’s a short drive or a plane trip to another country, pack these tips to stay safe and healthy. 

Staying healthy during a trip depends on pre-trip preparation, including taking a good, hard and honest look at your capabilities, says Jane Wilson-Howarth, a physician in Cambridge, England, and Kathmandu. She literally wrote the book on the topic, Staying Healthy When You Travel, with the 6^th edition published in late 2023.

We got her best tips—from her years as a physician, mother and intrepid traveler—along with expert advice from other sources about how older travelers can leave healthy and return home just as healthy and perhaps happier. Here’s what to know.

Are You Travel Ready Physically?

Are you ready for a challenge? “People will plan to go up a mountain not having gone for a walk in the park for a decade, and think they can walk the Himalayas or the Andes,” Wilson-Howarth says. Instead, “Have a good, hard look at yourself and your capabilities.”  Of course, preparation is possible—you can train for the hike in the Himalayas or the pilgrimage to the Camino de Santiago, but it takes time and effort, and it’s probably going to be tougher for older adults than younger, she says.

Know the Travel Risks for Seniors

Know your risks: Over age 50, the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis, a nasty blood clot, usually in the leg) goes up, Wilson-Howarth says. “By age 80 there’s a considerable risk of DVT if you fly more than 5.5 hours.” She suggests wearing compression socks to reduce risk, and other experts concur. And the CDC says the risk, whether by air, train or car, starts at four hours.

Yellow fever vaccine is needed if traveling to areas at risk, such as Africa and South America, but the risks of side effects is greater in those over 60, among other groups.

Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, is found in Africa, Central and South America, and other destinations, according to the CDC.  Anti-malarial medication for prevention may be recommended.

Your Meds Travel too!

Toting mediations: “If you’re taking anything with street value—anything with codeine, sleeping preparations and many antidepressants, I would travel with a physician’s letter [explaining their necessity] and keep them in the original containers,” Wilson-Howarth says. The same advice goes for injectables, such as insulin and the weight loss drugs semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), she says.

The American Diabetes Association has additional information on traveling with insulin, such as never putting it in checked luggage.

What to do if you lose your prescription medication enroute, or forget to bring it? Here are suggestions.

For those who need supplementary oxygen, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has information on which portable oxygen concentrators are allowed aloft. Airlines also post specific information on their websites about how to be approved for oxygen use onboard.

Insure Your Travel

Travel insurance: “Get it,” Wilson-Howarth advises. Shopping around is crucial. The CDC offers shopping tips and explains the distinctions between travel insurance, travel health insurance (for more in-depth explanations, visit here) and medical evacuation coverage. “People don’t think about the fact that you have to be quite well to be evacuated,” Wilson-Howarth says.

“After a motor accident or a stroke, you wouldn’t be put on a plane and sent home right away. You’d need to be stabilized in local facilities, so you need coverage for that.” Check with your insurance plan first to figure out the gaps. And read the fine print—does the policy cover, for instance, injuries from bungee jumping?

Pack Common Sense

Rabies worries Wilson-Howarth as much as malaria does. She urges caution around dogs or other animals that roam freely in many countries—don’t pet them.

And, “its always a good idea to be up to date on a flu shot,” she says. “Crowded planes are good places to catch flu.”

No matter how modern and up to date your location, the CDC advises travelers to avoid contaminated water – for drinking, ice cubes, brushing teeth, or washing food, and in swimming.  Their tips are here.

Extras for Overseas Travel

Forget anything? If you’re not a list-maker, the CDC is, and offers this checklist of what to pack if you’re traveling overseas. It also has a “before your travel” list of actions, such as letting your doctor in on what you have in mind, just to see if he or she agrees with your vacation plan.

YOUR TURN

What are your healthy travel tips? Share your experience and advice in the comments!

Kathleen Doheny is a Los Angeles-based independent journalist, specializing in health, behavior, fitness and lifestyle stories. Besides writing for Senior Planet, she reports for WebMD, Medscape, MedCentral and other sites.  She is a mom, mother-in-law and proud and happy Mimi who likes to hike, jog and shop.
Doheny photo: Shaun Newton

This article offered by Senior Planet and Older Adults Technology Services is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency call 911 immediately.

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