Ten Ways to Adapt So You Can Continue to Travel

Change is inevitable as we age, but it doesn’t mean we have to stop being brave, wise travelers so long as we’re willing to adapt.

Conversations

I don’t want to make every article about cancer’s impact on my life and travels, but since receiving the diagnosis, health seems to be a topic that comes up during a lot of conversations with friends. 

Sometimes it’s cancer-related discussions. Often it’s about general, age-related ailments. Most of my friends – whether my age and older but even a few years younger – are increasingly aware of the impact their health has on their lives, including travel.

Losses

Growing older, at every stage of life, involves a great deal of change. (Remember puberty?) 

The changes of growing older aren’t all negative. I, for example, appreciate the personal confidence I’ve developed over the years and wouldn’t go back to the insecurities I felt in high school for anything! 

But we humans do tend to focus on the negatives. While many people take steps to improve their health as they age, eventually most of us face decreased strength and stamina, not to mention various aches and pains that slow us down.

And if you’re lucky enough to live a long life, it is likely that you will eventually deal with some significant illness or injury.

It’s natural to notice the changes and start thinking about what you won’t be able to do in the near future. Maybe you wanted to run a marathon. Or climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Or bike across Italy. Maybe you dream of lying on a tropical beach, but you now have a physical condition which limits your ability to fly or drive to that beach.

It’s easy to start feeling sorry for yourself (we’ve all been there) and bemoan what you’re going to be missing. Sometimes, especially with unexpected injuries or illnesses, it’s also easy to focus on how unfair life is and how you wish it was different.

Changes don’t necessarily mean you have to give up all of your dreams. However, they do usually mean you need to make some adaptations. But first you have to accept reality.

Radical Acceptance

In the past, I’ve discussed how many challenges in life present us with detours, but we don’t have to come to a complete halt so long as we’re willing to keep moving forward. What I was discussing in a round-about way was radical acceptance.

In a nutshell, radical acceptance means looking at the facts of a situation, rather than focusing on what you wish was happening instead, and accepting that as the reality you’re dealing with, whether or not you like it or feel it is fair. You don’t have to like what is happening, you just have to acknowledge it is what it is. Once you accept what is happening, you can then make clearer decisions about what is within your power to do to move forward.

When it comes to our health, radical acceptance means recognizing and accepting our limitations. For example, Greg and I recently camped in Montana with friends who are younger and in better shape than us. This difference was exacerbated by the higher elevation. Would we have liked to join our friends on all of the hikes they tackled? Sure. But we were also realistic enough to know that we would have slowed down the other couple, and honestly, we probably wouldn’t have much enjoyed the long, high-altitude hikes they took given we would have been exhausted and possibly nauseous and headachy. (For those of you who haven’t spent much time in the mountains, altitude sickness can feel similar to a hangover.) 

By accepting the reality of our situation, Greg and I were able to instead focus on enjoying some shorter hikes at lower altitudes and exploring the areas around Glacier National Park and the town of Red Lodge while our friends were on their longer hikes.

Taking Action After Acceptance

What I haven’t discussed previously is what adapting looks like in practical terms when it comes to health and physical changes and their impact on travel.

Accepting reality is the most important, first step to coping with change. It makes it possible to move on. Once you’ve accepted the changes your body is experiencing, you can more accurately assess what you’re still able to do and take some of the following steps to adapt your travel:

1. Talk to the experts. You know your body better than anyone else, but it’s also important to get advice from your medical providers. Ask about expectations and limitations regarding your current condition. Make sure to let your medical provider know the basics about your trip, such as whether you will be flying, staying at a high altitude, or traveling to someplace with extreme heat or cold, since these can all impact some medical conditions. Also discuss what you can do to address anticipated problems. For example, if you have a condition that affects your immune system, do you need to wear a mask when you are in enclosed spaces with others, and is your doctor willing to prescribe you medications (such as an antibiotic) for you in case you need them while you’re gone?
2. Medical equipment. If your condition requires medical equipment, make sure you understand how and when to use it and have a backup plan in case of problems. For example, if you use an insulin pump or another device that uses a battery, make sure to bring an extra with you. Also, there are smaller versions of many devices designed for travel. If you travel frequently, consider investing in one of these devices that will take up less room in your suitcase or carry on bag.
3. Medication. Make sure to pack enough medication for your entire trip plus some extra in case of travel delays. Many people in the US are used to using a chain pharmacy where they can get their prescription refilled even if they are in another city or state, but if you are traveling to a remote area or another country, this might not be an option. Some doctors are willing to write you an extra prescription in case you need a medication refill at a new pharmacy while you are traveling.
4. Ask questions ahead of time. Know what you need and instead of assuming you will have access to those things, ask questions ahead of time. For example, if you use oxygen or a CPAP at night, don’t assume there will be a wall outlet  in the bedroom near your bed, especially if you will be staying in an older hotel or home. Contact your hosts and inquire about electrical sockets, and if there is a need, whether they will have an available extension cord. (And don’t forget to pack an adapter and/or a converter, depending on what your medical device needs.) Similarly, you might want to ask questions about access -– if you are using a wheelchair, ask about stairs, the size of elevators, and the width of doors. For example, I’ve stayed in multiple hotels in Europe in which there was an elevator, but it was barely big enough to hold one person with a suitcase and definitely would not have been large enough for a wheelchair.
5. Consider using mobility aids, even if you’re not using them at home. As most of you know, travel can involve a great deal of standing in line and walking. If you are experiencing mobility issues, such as weakness, balance difficulties, or pain, consider using devices that you might not be using yet at home, such as a cane or a walker. Pride can often get in the way of doing so, but remember, a trip to the hospital emergency room because of a fall is guaranteed to negatively impact any travel adventure. Even if you don’t bring a mobility device with you, airports and some popular tourist sites have free wheelchairs available, although it’s a good idea to book them in advance to make sure one is available when you need it.
6. Don’t forget comfort items. I have a friend who takes her pillow with her everywhere, even if she is flying internationally. When I teased her about this, she explained that as she has gotten older, sleeping on an unfamiliar and uncomfortable pillow can exacerbate the back problems she has developed in the past couple of years, which basically leaves her immobilized the next day. If there are items you need so as to function at your best, it’s not bougie to pack them in your suitcase or carry on. In doing so, you’re actually keeping yourself healthy.
7. Add extra time to your itinerary. It is common sense that if our bodies are slowing down, we are going to be slower when walking and engaging in other activities. You’re probably not going to run to catch a train! Depending on your health needs, you may also need to go to bed earlier or take a nap during the day, so you may want to spend more days in an area to see everything you want to see while also having time to rest as needed. Making adaptations and needing to do things differently can also take more time. For example, if you need to avoid stairs due to a wonky hip, you may need to take a longer route to find a ramp into a building or a sidewalk with a gradual incline. (By the way, did you know if you’re walking in an unfamiliar area and want to avoid stairs, Google Maps allows you to filter for a wheelchair accessible route?)
8. Buy travel insurance that covers health needs. Check with your health insurance as to whether they will cover you if you are traveling abroad, and if so, what they cover. If needed, consider buying travel insurance. There are insurance policies that cover medical care, including medical transportation back to your home in extreme cases. Make sure to read the fine print regarding what the policy covers. Especially make sure that it covers pre-existing conditions!
9. Consider paying for extra assistance. Although I’ve encouraged the use of public transportation in most travel situations, having a taxi or private driver deliver you to the front door of your destination can make a huge difference if you’re experiencing any sort of mobility or stamina difficulties. Likewise, having extra legroom on a plane is well worth the cost if you know doing so will allow you to stretch and move and subsequently be able to still walk at the end of the flight.
10. Consider a specialized tour. Remember in the past when I discussed how there are times when tours are a better option than independent travel? Depending on your health condition, this might be one of them. You can easily find specialized tour companies by doing a quick internet search, but some examples are Road Scholar (which has several tours requiring minimal walking), Wheel the World (which provides tours for travelers using wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment), and Seable Holidays (for travelers with impaired vision).

General Considerations

Whether or not you have a health concern, there are a couple of health-related actions you should take before embarking on any international trip. The first is to check out your travel destination on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. This will provide you with health notifications about diseases in the area and recommended and required vaccines for the country.

Also, if you are a US citizen or resident, before you leave on your travels abroad, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Doing so will provide you with updates regarding safety, security, health concerns, and extreme weather while you’re at your travel destination. The embassy or consulate can also use the information you provide to contact you if there is an emergency back home and your family requests their help in locating you.

We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

Joseph Campbell

Some Inspiration

A few years ago, my friend Heather’s mother, Ann, was 90 years old and decided that there was still one place she wanted to travel to before she died – Italy. With the help of Heather and Heather’s husband, Ann managed to visit Rome, Venice, and Pompeii.

Ann had a lot of experience traveling internationally, but traveling at 90 years of age is obviously very different from traveling when you’re younger. Heather shared with me the adaptations they made to ensure the trip was successful. These included arranging for a private tour guide and a wheelchair to tour the Vatican, taking a golf cart tour of Rome, and hiring a private car with a driver to visit the Italian coast. Heather also reported that she and her husband did things on their own (such as walking around an area and checking out cafes) during most mornings to give her mother an opportunity to sleep in, and they planned their main activities during the afternoons.

Ann was traveling at a slower pace due to age, but she didn’t let her age prevent her from still exploring the world!

Adapting Means Continuing

Age and illness can change our strength and stamina. Slowing down is a common symptom. As we grow older and/or cope with health issues, we likely can’t travel in the same way we did when we were in our 20s or 30s. But listening to our bodies and making the necessary adaptations to our travel adventures means we can still continue exploring the world and creating memories!

How has your body changed over time? How have these changes impacted your travel? What adaptations can you make to how you travel so those changes won’t force you to stay home?

Sandi McCoy Kramos Clinical Psychologist

Sandi McCoy Kramos is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate from the University of Virginia and over 30 years of experience as a therapist. She is also a lifelong traveler with years of experience planning and implementing individual travel adventures for herself and family and friends. When asked why she started this blog, Sandi said, "Over the years I've realized that when people say they want to travel but don't actually do it, it's often their own insecurities and lack of knowledge that get in the way. I want to give individuals the knowledge they need to actually make their travel dreams come true."

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