Airline Travel Tips for Your Elderly Loved One

At Care is There Geriatric Care Management we often help our clients prepare for airline travel. If your loved one has memory loss,  mobility limitations, hearing loss, vision or hearing limitations or other concerns, travel can seem stressful or even out of the question.  But with special attention, your loved one can travel successfully.  Here are some tips:

• Special TSA Security Screening for Passengers 75 and older – Passengers 75 and older are not required to remove their shoes and light jacket at the TSA (Transportation Security Administration)  checkpoint, and they are allowed an extra pass through Advanced Imaging Technology devices.  More details are available on the TSA Website including the video at this link. Or call the TSA Cares hotline at 1-855-787-2227.
• “Please be Patient” Card – Various organizations produce small cards with messages such as  “Please Be Patient….The person with me has Alzheimer’s Disease and may require a few extra moments.
• Special Assistance from Airlines – Airlines offer special assistance for people with disabilities or those who need to travel with medical equipment.  Discuss your loved one’s needs when booking their ticket, and contact your airline several days in advance of travel to arrange for special services. See these pages for instructions from major airlines:
  • American Airlines
  • Delta
  • Jetblue
  • Southwest
  • United
• Gate Passes Allow You to Escort Your Loved One – If you are not traveling with your loved one and need to accompany them through the security checkpoint to the gate, obtain a gate pass from your airline ticket counter when you check them in and present it to the TSA security officer.  Allow extra time for this process since ticket agents and TSA officers may not be familiar with the process and the gate pass may trigger secondary security checks for you and your loved one.  If you are using a gate pass, remember not to bring to the airport any items such as liquids, pocket knives, etc. which will complicate your own security screening.
• Medications – Don’t put medications in checked luggage, in case that luggage gets lost.  TSA allows medications in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces to be carried on the plane, and the medications don’t have to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint, as TSA officers may need to open them for additional screening. Be aware of all the TSA regulations for carrying medication on the plane.
• Reduce Confusion by Checking Luggage through to the final destination – if your loved one is traveling on a small plane, roll-aboard bags will have to be gate-checked and retrieved plane-side.  This  may confuse your loved one and lead to lost luggage.  Consider checking bags all the way through to the destination, and pay for baggage charges when you book your ticket to avoid extra steps and decisions during check-in.
• Senior Citizen Discounts – some airlines offer discounts for senior citizens. See more information here.
• Professional Accompaniment – At Care is There Geriatric Care Management, we travel with our clients at their request. You can find a geriatric care manager in your area by visiting the website of the Aging Life Care Association. Some specialty providers may also provide staff people to travel with your loved one.
• Medical Transport Services – if your loved one is seriously ill, consider a medical transport company specializing in this type of service such as Air Critical Care.

For more articles like this, see:  Assistive Technology, Care for the Caregiver, Communicating with Senior Citizens, Hearing Loss, Managing Medications, Memory Loss.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact us for a free consultation: 434.326.5323 or info@careisthere.com.

For more information about our services, and to read testimonials from our clients, visit our website. Also, view this short video about our care management services.

Elizabeth Swider, Geriatric Care Manager, Certified Senior Advisor
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement