Tips For Carers When Going On Vacation With Someone That Has Mobility Issues

Spending the majority of your life as a carer can be difficult, yet helping the ones you love to experience a relatively normal life can be extremely rewarding. For those that suffer from a disability, especially those that impact their ability to move unaided, there are a lot of things that they may struggle to do, such as travelling. Going on vacation with a family member or friend who struggles with mobility can be a bit challenging, but with a little planning and preparation, it can still also be a wonderful experience. Here are some tips to help make your vacation as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved.

Discuss Any Concerns With Them

Your first step is to confer with the people you’re travelling with, including the person that has mobility issues so that you can all come up with a good plan for tackling any potential challenges. While you’re all still going to be able to have a lot of fun and make some enjoyable memories, it would be unwise to just assume that everything will go smoothly when someone in your group isn’t necessarily able to tackle every activity in the same way as everyone else. For example, if there is a specific place you want to visit during your vacation, or if you’re going somewhere that you expect might be difficult to get around at times, then you might want to get everyone on the same page for tackling these challenges. You might also have to offset any expectations, such as reminding everyone that certain paths or activities may not be possible so that people aren’t disappointed.

Use The Right Support Equipment

As a carer, you will understand what sort of equipment the person you care for will need during their everyday life. Travelling with someone that struggles to get around, however, may require a few more tools to make it a comfortable experience for both of you. First of all, you might want to consider getting a specific wheelchair accessible motability vehicle. You might also want to consider whether their wheelchair if they use one, is suitable for the location you’re going to. If you’re vacationing in the countryside, for example, you could consider getting an all-terrain electric wheelchair that can tackle uneven surfaces much more easily. That way, everyone can enjoy the great outdoors together without worrying about whether you can all tackle certain trails.

Research The Area You’re Visiting

Before you book the trip, accommodation, or activities, make sure that you do some research on the destination you’re planning to visit. It’s essential that you look for information on accessibility, such as whether the place you’re visiting has ramps, elevators, and also wheelchair-accessible facilities like toilets. Don’t forget to try out some of the best accessible travel apps which can provide you with invaluable information and tips. You should also ensure that the accommodations you’re looking into are also accessible. This will ensure that your loved one can move around comfortably and safely without worrying about struggling to go to the bathroom or that they might not be able to get to their room without assistance. You want to find places that can provide them with the ability to do things for themselves and preserve their dignity if they do have the ability and desire to be as independent as possible.