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A vacation with Mom and Dad may require more planning than a typical vacation

We are traveling again. We want our parents or older loved ones to spend time with us, to see other family members — or even take that dream trip they have always wanted. Dan Levitt's mother was turning 75, and he wanted to make her birthday special. He asked his mother along on a planned work trip to Europe.

"We added on days before and afterwards, to be tourists," says Levitt, adjunct professor in gerontology at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada. "The difference with [an older] traveling companion was that I needed to think about her mental health needs and her physical stamina to ensure that the load on her was reasonable, and that she would enjoy the trip."

Jennifer Do, a gastrointestinal pathologist, and her husband Vuong Do of Maumelle, Arkansas, planned a family road trip to Yellowstone including their older parents. The Dos are avid travelers, but they knew they needed to put their parents' needs first when planning the trip.

"I wanted to make sure the cabin was accessible ahead of time and that there were no major steps to climb."

"We wanted comfortable accommodations, and ended up booking a four-bedroom log cabin. I wanted to make sure the cabin was accessible ahead of time and that there were no major steps to climb," she says. "I find that it is important to reach out to the property owner directly to ensure there are not many stairs and if there are, that they are not too steep and have handrails." 

Careful pre-planning can help, and is most important if your older parent has physical or medical disabilities. Here are some more tips:

Traveling by air is complicated for even the most seasoned of travelers. If you are traveling with an older person, take a few extra steps to reduce the exasperation.

The Dos rented a minivan that would comfortably seat everyone, and had good views from every seat. But her mother had trouble getting in and out of the vehicle, so they ended up finding a step stool to use during their day trips. "I researched the park pretty extensively to figure out our routes of travel. Many of the major sites in Yellowstone have boardwalks which are relatively flat," says Do. "We tried to focus on these, rather than having our parents traipsing through the woods on dirt trails."

Plan for shorter days when traveling with older persons. "FOMO (fear of missing out) can be the enemy of a good time," says Do. "It is better to see a few amazing things and enjoy them, rather than feel like you are slogging through, just to check boxes. [Our] parents became pretty tired and were worn out and dehydrated by the end of the day."

Do also recommends keeping a first aid kit on hand. "Older people often have delicate skin. Some are on blood thinners, so they are more prone to scrapes and cuts, and may bleed more than expected," she says. "It is important to be prepared so that minor injuries don't become major problems. Have gauze, medical tape, adhesive bandages, and Vaseline or other ointments available."

Traveling with older parents can be fulfilling and fun if you prepare well and consider their needs and comfort when creating an itinerary. Do is planning another trip to the Norwegian Fjords with their parents that includes a cruise.

The Dos are GenXers and self-described adrenaline junkies, so the Yellowstone trip taught them that they needed to slow the pace for their parents. "We thought we were taking it easy on them, but it was still a bit too much," says Do. "The next one will be very scenic and laid back."

Levitt has already booked several more vacations with his mother. "My mom and I are still talking about our time together," says Levitt. "It has brought us closer, and we both look forward to vacations and adventures in the future."