Traveling With a Disability, Yours or Your Travel Mate.

When I was escorting cruises and tours, I sometimes learned the hard way. One of those times was when a member of the group realized he had left his heart medicine at home. We were already at our tour destination, had checked into the hotel and spent one night. It was the morning of the 2d day when he realized he did not have his heart medicine. This was back in the old days, before cell phones and Internet communication.

Since that time, I stress the importance of putting your medications and copies of your prescriptions in your carry on bag. If you know you are going to take a dose of medicine before leaving on the trip, put the single dose on the counter, and pack your medicines in your carry-on. I cannot stress it enough.

Here are a few important things to know and do before going on your trip.

• Definitely know about medical facilities in the places you will be visiting.
• If you use a wheelchair or other assisting devices, make sure where you are going is accessible to your needs.
• If necessary ask your travel agent or booking company if there are tour/cruse lines that specialize in the needs of people with disabilities.
• If flying, call well in advance for special seating.
• Take a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses, and have a copy of your prescription.
• Be sure someone has your emergency contact number. Have it written where it can be quickly seen in the event you can't communicate.
• Since I'm on several medications, I take a pillbox with daily compartments. The kind I can see through, that way I know if I took my pills for a certain day.

 Always know before you go, especially on a tour.

• Can you handle whatever walking may be involved?
• Will there be long treks in the tour that could be tiring?
• If you will be sitting for a long period of time, check to be sure you can get up and move to avoid thrombosis
• If your Travel Agent can't give you the answers you need, go directly to the company you will be traveling with.
• If you have even a minor disability, it might be best to use a packaged tour with an escort.
• Be sure you have travel insurance with pre-existing conditions covered.

Be sure to keep updated with Senior Travel Tips Plus. Contact me on Facebook, Mary Bradley McCauley