Are you elderly and planning to travel? Beware: you are more susceptible to
infectious diseases, even if you are healthy. Find out what the risks are and what you can do here
do to prevent problems such as illness.
More and more elderly people are travelling. The extent to which someone falls into the 'elderly' category
charges varies from person to person and depends on several factors. The
immune system also has a very gradual decline, starting as early as 40 years old
age.
The conditions at the destination regarding climate, altitude level
and accessibility of medical facilities, safety and hygiene are for the elderly
extra important to consider.
What are the additional risks?
Ageing is accompanied by a decline in reserves in lung, heart and kidney function.
Older travellers may run into problems earlier as a result. The risk of illness and
accidents is increasing. Chronic diseases can also make older travellers more susceptible
for travel-related infections and complications of these diseases may occur.
Common problems in elderly people travelling are traveller's diarrhoea and dehydration,
constipation, jet lag, overheating and hypothermia. The risk of a thrombotic leg or
pulmonary embolism is higher in the elderly. Infectious diseases, such as malaria, for example, can occur in
elderly more seriously.
Travelling often requires a lot of physical effort, even if there are no special activities on the
programme. At airports, long distances often have to be covered, sometimes
with time constraints and heavy baggage.
Preventive measures
- Adjust your travel pace, transport and accommodation based on your physical condition.
Even in cases of severe disabilities, there are still many options in terms of
of travel. Specialised travel agencies organise trips with medical
guidance and adapted transport and accommodation. - Make an appointment 6 weeks before departure at a traveller's advice and
vaccination agency, preferably even before you book the trip. - If you are taking medication, it is important to have a current medication history from your
pharmacy with you to the counselling session.
Tips to prevent illness or discomfort
- When taking medicine, bring a medicine passport and keep your medication in the
hand luggage; - Be extra vigilant about good hygiene and nutrition measures, Elderly people have more
risk of a severe course of traveller's diarrhoea, as the risk of dehydration is greater
is. - Consider taking out a good travel and cancellation insurance policy with
sufficient medical assistance; - Choose an easily accessible destination with good healthcare;
- Match the travel destination, mode of stay, transport and activities to your
physical and psychological capabilities.
Of course, in addition to these specific tips for the older traveller, general advice also applies
about health while travelling. For this, please refer to the General travel leaflet.
More information
See also www.lcr.nl
Download the leaflet below!
