Traveling Companion Feature Offers a New Way for Seniors to Travel

The increasing number of companies that offer that service has made it easier for older people to travel and enjoy life.

Traveling and seeing new places is a pleasure that people from all ages enjoy. However, as you get older, traveling by yourself or even with your family may be a bit of a hassle, especially if you need special care.

In order to fulfill that need, a new niche in tourism and senior care has flourished in the past few years. According to The New York Times, the traveling companion service is blossoming not only in the US, but in Europe and Asia as well. It’s the case of Atlanta-based Flying Companions, owned by Doug Ianelli.

Mr. Iannelli manages the travel reservations and logistics, sleeps in an adjoining hotel room and otherwise accompanies a senior client full time as they take in the museums, restaurants and tourist sites. If needed, Mr. Iannelli provides a wheelchair and makes sure they take frequent rest breaks. During the entire trip, Mr. Ianelli sends updates via texts and photos to the family.

The New York Times also reports that “the business of providing traveling companions for older adults is still new enough that there are no good statistics on who or how many provide such services.” But it is certainly growing, if all the home care companies adding the service to their roster are anything to go by.

Director of client care services at FirstLight Home Care, Rebecca Rushing, said that her company started offering a travel companion program about three years ago. They are a national network of franchises that provide in-home care for seniors, For now, about one-third of its 130 franchises provide the service. “We do expect that number to keep increasing,” she said.

Another service within that niche is Travel Care & Logistics, owned by Cindy L. Schaefer, a registered nurse with a Master’s degree. She started the company in 2003 after researching about the effects of airplane pressurization on seniors. She saw how hard air travel could be on older people if their physical needs are not properly met.

It is not a cheap service, but it is essential to work ahead with the family to understand the traveler’s medical situation. “People with dementia can become anxious when they travel and diabetes patients need to have their sugar monitored,” she explains. “Our goal is to get all the information we need, plan carefully, and show the family their loved one is in good hands.”

[Photo: FirstLight Home Care]