How to plan your summer travel as a family caregiver

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — It’s the first official day of summer and for many, the season is a time to travel, relax and take a break from the day-to-day grind.

For family caregivers, taking a trip is often out of the question. In a new report from AARP, half of caregivers are staying home and avoiding travel.

“A lot of it has to do with planning ahead and knowing your loved one’s capabilities,” said Amy Goyer, AARP family and caregiving expert.

One in five Americans, about 53 million people, are family caregivers according to the CDC. The unpaid occupation can lead to physical, emotional and financial strain.

Taking a trip to see friends or just a change of scenery can improve both the caregiver and care recipients’ emotional health.

“What happens is, in our head, we just think of the whole jumble of everything, and you just think, ‘I can’t do that.’ But if you break it down, day by day, every piece of the travel and you do the planning, it feels much less daunting. You know, don’t try to do this by yourself. Get another family member to travel with you, get even a paid caregiver,” explained Goyer.

She said traveling with a loved one who needs extra care can mean additional costs in the form of extra days needed to drive long distances or maybe booking a hotel room instead of staying with family. See if relatives can pitch in so everyone can enjoy a nice break.

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