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Hi there,


We are moving my 84 yo mom from Tucson to NY. We're going to stretch it over two days in hopes it will be easier for her to manage. Driving to Phoenix one day, and taking a direct flight to our destination the next day.


The issue is, my mom has a lot of needs we don't feel confident we can meet, especially the physical ones. A month ago, the issues were near-blindness, hearing loss, cognitive decline due to vascular dementia, and general mobility issues due to a history of MS and a lifetime of inactivity. For that, she used a rolling walker. Add to that: she broke her hip 3 weeks ago, so worst case, when we travel, she'll need help with transfers to and from a wheelchair.


Has anyone used a travel companion service for their elderly loved one? I'd love a recommendation, but even just a tale of your experience traveling with an impaired loved one will help me.


Thanks in advance.

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Sorry you have to move your mother. She is in such poor shape for travel. I personally don't have experience in travel companion. I hope others will come along and share some insights. Good luck with the move.
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Bumping you up....
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I have been traveling with my mother since age 85. She has mobility issues, spinal stenosis and various other heath problems. She uses a w/c and walker. She does quite well on the plane. I request two bulkhead seats which allow for extra room. She does not use the bathroom any longer so I double up on her depends. I limit her fluids when traveling by plane. I think it might be difficult traveling with your mother who just broke her hip three weeks ago. Did you discuss this with her doctor? He might advice you to wait a few more weeks. The trip might be too uncomfortable and painful for her. I would hire a nurse to help if her doctor says it is ok for her to travel. Boy it seems when one problem is solved you get another. Touch situation. Hope things work out for you.
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I'm sure there are travel companion services but I would be hesitant to have someone she doesn't know and isn't very comfortable with taking charge of this. Are you planning to go as well just have a companion like a nurse for the heavy lifting and care? That might work well but if we were doing this with my mom I think at least 2 of us (her children) would maybe go (I have brothers so one of them or my son for muscle) rather than a stranger so there are less foreign things going on. You can get assistance at the airport by calling ahead and arranging for a cart (you've seen them a driver drives you through the airport) and a wheelchair and I think they will also assist if needed. They will also have the same waiting on the other end when you arrive in NY. I am not sure but the airline may have a system for securing the wheelchair on the plane as well rather than having to move her to a seat the way it's done in a transport van but even if they don't they can make sure she has an easily accessible seat.

Depending on her anxiety tendencies you could speak to her doctor about a mild sedative in case it's needed too I suppose. Having said all of that if there is a caregiver she knows or that had been caring for her in AZ for a while and she really likes that would be an option, at least for me it would over a stranger.
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