Are you planning a road trip this year? Perhaps you want to hit the road with a spouse, group of friends, relatives, or your grandkids and explore the country. If so, you’ve probably already given some thought to the destination and activities you’ll do along the way. While there’s nothing wrong with thinking about all the fun you’ll have, you can’t overlook the importance of your health, wellness, and safety. Taking a long-distance road trip as a senior is a lot different than when you were in your 20s, 30s, and 40s. As you’re likely aware, the older you get, the more it impacts everything from your immune system and existing medical problems to your vision and hand-eye coordination. Ultimately, the risks of having an issue on a road trip as an older adult are higher. While you shouldn’t be discouraged, you must take measures like these health, wellness, and safety tips listed below to ensure you have a healthy, safe, and fun experience.
Know Your Health Status
Before taking a road trip, you should know your health status. Do you have certain conditions that make sitting for hours or traveling long-distance complicated? For instance, if you’re prone to blood clots, you’ll want to plan more frequent stops to get out of the car and stretch your legs. If you have diabetes, having small snacks in the vehicle is recommended to ensure your levels remain intact. Talk to your primary care physician before your road trip to evaluate your fitness to travel.
Enlist Another Driver
Being on the road for hours puts a lot of wear and tear on the body. While planning regular breaks is one way to reverse the damage, it’s often best to have a second driver with you. That way, you can take turns driving, enabling each other to get some much-needed rest.
Insurance And Roadside Assistance
No one plans on getting in an accident, but you never know what could happen during your long-distance road trip. Therefore, you should ensure you have adequate insurance coverage to provide financial relief in an accident. If you don’t have car insurance or your current policy isn’t sufficient, you can always search for other companies like Integon Preferred Insurance Company to find affordable policies for seniors.
As you shop for auto insurance, look for add-on services like roadside assistance. Such services come in handy if the car breaks down and you need help from an expert. Although it’s an additional fee, roadside assistance can cover the cost of tow, jumps, battery replacements, and more.
Medical Alert & Monitoring Devices
Keeping an eye on your health on and off the road is essential for your safety and well-being. If you suffer from allergies, diabetes, heart disease, or other severe medical conditions, wearing a health bracelet or medical alert device is ideal. Should something happen, emergency responders and medical personnel know how to provide the best treatment. Seniors should also wear monitoring devices that keep track of their vitals and send alerts when they need to take a break or seek assistance.
Prescriptions, Supplements, And Support Items
If you take prescription medications or dietary supplements daily, ensure that you have them filled before your trip so you can take them with you. As for support items, invest in products that provide maximum comfort during your road trip. For example, if sitting for too long causes body aches, having extra cushions or a neck support pillow can reduce the pain and keep you safe as you drive. Another example might be wearing compression socks to increase blood flow.
There’s nothing like being able to pack your things, grab your loved ones, and hit the road for a long-distance excursion to another city or state. If you want to enjoy the experience, you’ll need to prioritize your health, wellness, and safety. The suggestions listed above will ensure that you and those traveling with you can have an amazing time with fewer mishaps along the way.