3 steps to enjoy your vacation with aging parents

You’re taking the vacation you've wanted for the longest time. The beach is as welcoming as you imagined. The lukewarm sand melts against your feet. There’s nothing more soothing than the sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore. But hold on.....you’re also caregiving for your aging mother. 

Approximately 38 million Americans provide an average of 18 hours of care per week, according to AARP’s latest report, leaving virtually no time for rest or relaxation. Family caregivers are so occupied with caregiving chores and commitments that they have no time for personal relaxation and joy.


And when they do, they are overwhelmed with competing needs — to relish their vacation or to take care of their family member. You know your aging mother doesn’t want to slow you down. In fact, she wants you to enjoy as much as possible. You know it, and so does she. However, the thought of leaving her alone at home with no support makes you feel uncomfortable. With tasks piling up on your caregiving to-do list and the limited time you have for leisure, you ache to complete the itinerary you’ve so patiently planned.

But is it possible to completely enjoy a vacation while caregiving for your loved one? 

Here are three ways through which you can successfully enjoy your vacation as a family caregiver.

Have an emergency alarm on your phone!

It is easy to lose control of situations on a vacation. Everybody is having fun, and being vigilant means extra work. An emergency alarm is a good way to alert all your family members, if there’s an unprecedented situation. This means you no longer have to fret about your father getting breathless on a flight of stairs or your spouse losing their keys to the room. An automated notification or voice message to a list of the most trusted contacts will help you get in charge of the situation at the earliest.

Plan a solo activity and a group activity

When you take a vacation with your family whilst caregiving for a loved one, it is the most natural thing to forget the entire purpose of it. Engaging in group activities is great, but make sure you plan something just for yourself. It can be a local cooking class, a stroll at the beach, grabbing your favorite meal at a small cafe, or anything that relaxes you. The only goal is to recharge your energy.

Keep plenty of buffer time in your itinerary

If you plan to wake up at 8 am, go to the beach at 8:30, and come back for breakfast so you can watch a local musical show starting at 9:10 — you’re setting yourself up for failure. A competent itinerary for a successful vacation must allow space for delays and unforeseen challenges, especially when traveling with a loved one with a chronic condition. Allow generous amounts of time between two activities, so you’re never in a rush.

Get Help

Best Life Caregivers bring you the most experienced caregivers in CT, available for live-in and hourly in-home senior care. Make sure your loved ones receive complete attention, respect, and care — even in your absence.

Reach out to us here.