Many people find that retirement is the best time to travel. They typically no longer have to worry about their careers, their kids have left home, and they ideally have ample savings to cover travel expenses.
However, retirement age can be a tricky period where health concerns may amplify, or mobility may be limited. To account for this, you’ll need a solid travel plan and smart strategies to adapt to any emergencies that may arise.
Whether you want to RV across America or take a lengthy cruise through Europe, the first step is to know what exactly to prepare for during retirement travel.
Top Tips To Staying Safe And Healthy When Traveling During Retirement
Find Travel-Friendly Health Insurance
For American seniors, health insurance is typically covered through the government’s Medicare program. Medicare is a nationwide program, so it can be used in any state you travel to, but individual plans may limit what you can do in certain states.
Make sure your Medicare plan is adequate to cover out-of-state adventures. Medicare likely won’t cover you out of the country, so it may be smart to secure some additional coverage for traveling. Be sure to research healthcare options at your destination to prepare for emergencies.
Use Telemedicine
When you’re on the road or staying in a location with few healthcare options, you can use telemedicine to manage conditions and address any average concerns you may have. While telemedicine isn’t the best option for emergencies, you can still get tailored medical advice right from your phone or computer.
Most health insurance plans cover free telemedicine appointments, making it even more convenient for traveling retirees on a budget. Telemedicine appointments can help you refill medication, treat mild conditions, and advise you to get in-person care if needed.
Keep Your Prescriptions Filled
You never know when you may lose or run out of medication. You may not have access to a pharmacy that can refill out-of-state or out-of-country prescriptions.
If applicable, make sure you always fill your prescriptions before leaving on a trip. Keep your medications safe, dry, and accessible to prevent theft or loss.
Pack For The Climate
Older adults can be more vulnerable to extreme temperature fluctuations. Research the local climate where you’re traveling. You don’t want to bring a parka to Mexico or a sleeveless shirt to Mount Everest.
Certain medications can also increase your risk of hypothermia or heat stroke, so you’ll want to dress appropriately. Don’t be afraid to pack layers if you’re uncertain what the weather will be like.
Take Advantage Of Senior Communities
You never know when you may fall ill during retirement travel and need a little extra round-the-clock care for a while. You should know how to find communities like senior apartments or nursing homes during your travels to keep yourself safe and healthy.
You can temporarily live in senior communities like nursing homes while you recover from surgery, injury, or illness. However, not all nursing homes are created equal and can vary massively in quality during your travels – especially in retiree-heavy states like the ones below.
South Carolina
If you stop in South Carolina during your travels, you won’t be disappointed. Beautiful Southern history and architecture combine with charming coastal communities for a delightfully scenic cultural trip.
South Carolina is also a fairly popular destination for retirees due to its affordability, warmer climate, and senior-friendly cultural amenities. Mount Pleasant, one of the aforementioned coastal communities, experienced a major population boom, including seniors.
It may be difficult for some nursing home communities to keep up. Evaluate your options carefully by touring facilities, reading reviews, and evaluating official Medicare ratings. If you suspect or experience any issues, consult with a Mount Pleasant nursing home abuse lawyer and contact authorities.
Florida
Florida is well-known for its tourism, but it’s also one of the most popular states for retirees. It would be surprising if Florida was not on your list of travel destinations for retirement.
You’ll have plenty of senior communities to choose from, but overcrowding and understaffing can plague some of your options. Assess all Florida nursing homes, especially in popular retirement cities like Naples, Tampa, Orlando, and Miami.
Illinois
If you’re looking to spend some time in Chicago during retirement for deep-dish pizza or to gander at the infamous Art Institute, you’ll find a gracious amount of nursing homes or assisted living communities.
Nursing home abuse has been on the rise, especially in cities like Chicago, due to the increase in residents combined with a lack of qualified staff to meet their needs properly. Make sure you’re prepared to thoroughly tour and comb through community history before making a choice here.
Pace Yourself
While retirement is one of the best opportunities in your life to travel, you won’t be in your twenties anymore. You’ll want to take your time to ensure you can enjoy each activity and destination.
You don’t need to rush through an entire city on a one-day itinerary. Take your time with it! Rest when you need to and sleep in if necessary. You’re supposed to enjoy yourself, too.
Use Mobility Aids
Walking through large cities or hiking trails can be challenging as we age. Older adults may have more trouble with mobility than usual, even temporarily.
A cane or wheelchair can come in handy if you have a pain flare-up or mobility problem. Don’t be afraid to use a mobility aid to get yourself through tough trails or long walks.
Budget Wisely
Traveling is expensive, and costs are rising further due to inflation. Your retirement funds aren’t bottomless, so keep track of expenses, avoid extremely unnecessary spending, and create a budget to account for traveling.
You don’t want to spend all of your retirement funds on travel – you still need to pay for living costs. A financial advisor can easily help you work travel into your retirement plans.
Stay Social
It can be easy to lose contact with friends and family during travels. Keep in touch regularly so you don’t miss out on major events or lose your social touches.
Socializing is incredibly important, especially for seniors. You’ll also want to strike up conversations with local populations to flex your mind muscles!
Conclusion
Traveling provides beautiful scenery, cultural education, and tons of fun. As an older adult, however, you’ll need to keep track of expenses, healthcare, and safety to make the most of it.
If you’re planning on traveling during retirement, create short-term and long-term goals for your golden years to make sure you can appropriately plan for everything.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo