Keep Traveling As Long As You Can

One of the things that gets harder and harder for people to do as they age, is travel.  Even if nothing  is wrong with you, it's hard.  Walking distances in airports are long, plane seats are uncomfortable and difficult to get in to, hotels may have stairs that are tough to climb.  Not to mention getting on and off buses, carrying luggage, and possibly standing in line for extended lengths of time.  Then, if you have any sort of disability from a bad back or bad knees, to Parkinson's, MS or ALS, even the smallest thing could become an obstacle.  I have experienced this first hand in the past year, and feel compelled to make a few observations.

Thank goodness for the Americans With Disabilities Act that passed in 1990.  This opened the world to individuals with disabilities, from curbs that were wheelchair friendly, to bathrooms equipped for the handicapped.  Years ago, it took an act of God to get a wheelchair at the airport.  I remember in the 1990's when I was a full time travel agent.  I had to call the airline and reserve one of the few wheelchairs that were available for my older clients.  Today, there are hundreds of wheelchairs available for individuals that need them.  Just tell the skycap you need one, and within 5 minutes, your wheelchair and assistant will be there for you.  Older people who cannot walk long distances can now get around the airport.

Hotels are friendly toward those with disabilities, too.  Bathrooms and showers for wheelchairs make traveling so much easier.  Restaurants have tables that can adjust for wheelchairs.  All this makes travel accessible to older people or those with disabilities.

Of course adventure travel, hiking or climbing trips and ski trips become more difficult as you age, but there is so much you can do, and doing it keeps you young.  We just returned from a trip to Colorado and I was surprised at how much we were able to do.  Yes, it's harder, but travel makes everyone more interesting.  New experiences, new places, restaurants and new people make traveling adventurous for people of any age.  As we age and travel becomes more difficult, we just change the types of trips we take.  Train or cruise trips become the best way to go, and even driving trips (as long as driving is still an option) are fun.  Getting old or becoming disabled does not mean the end of travel.  It means travel will be more difficult, everything will take longer, but also gives you something to look forward to, a change in scenery and a new experience.  Ron and I intend to keep on traveling as long as we can.  It's one of the many things that keeps you young at heart.  All you youngsters, and those with no physical disabilities, please be patient when you see an old woman trying to get across the street or climb on to a bus.  These things are difficult for her, and we will all face these challenges at some time.