Senior Relocation Services
Flying Angels makes senior relocation easier with medical assistance during air travel. Discover the benefits and discuss your options now!
What Are Senior Relocation Services?
Senior relocation services refer to organizations that offer seniors support when they decide to downsize and move. They offer help in planning the move, leaning out their current home, and in making the move itself.
It’s an important service because while moving is tough for people at any age, it can prove especially hard for seniors. They often face having to leave a home where they’ve lived for years and accumulated many memories.
That’s a tough situation for both the seniors and their children. Senior relocation services can make a world of difference in dealing with relocating their parents. They range from concierge services who manage all the logistics of a move to nonprofit organizations that provide free labor for moving day.
Types of Senior Relocation Services
Every senior reaches a point where they start to think about downsizing and moving to a new town, often to live closer to loved ones. They also may move to live in the warmer climates of places such as Florida and Arizona or in an assisted living for family. Senior relocation services offer support in all phases of making the move.
How to Find Assisted Living for Family
Moving Planners
Sometimes called concierge services, these companies offer turnkey services that include packing, unpacking, space planning, downsizing, car transport and change of address. They also will come in person and evaluate what the seniors have, helping them develop a plan to declutter their home. Seniors should focus on working with senior move managers accredited by the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM).
Another source for seniors who plan to downsize or move are the Aging Life Care Specialists who are part of the Aging Life Care Association. They offer a network of specialists across the country who assist people who are dealing with aging life care issues.
Labor-Only Services
These are like regular moving companies, but they specialize in moving seniors. Or they’re a regular moving company that offers discounted rates for seniors. In either case, they can handle all the heavy lifting involved with moving that seniors cannot handle.
Non-Emergency Medical Transport
For seniors living with medical conditions or injuries that make it difficult to fly to their new destination alone, a non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) flight nurse can travel with them. They manage all medications and specialize in providing care at high altitudes. They also can manage booking all the travel arrangements.
Medical Transport Cost Examples
Non-Profit Organizations
Some non-profit organizations offer programs that help lower income seniors with moving costs. They include the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and the YMCA.
Downsizing Tips for Seniors
One of the most difficult parts of making a move for seniors is decluttering their current home and downsizing to fit into their new home. It’s a great feeling to accomplish this task, but it does require having a plan. The following tips can help.
Start As Early As Possible
Seniors should start a couple of months in advance with a checklist of what they need to accomplish before making the move. This checklist can include:
- Getting floor plan of new home
- Choosing which furniture to move
- Getting rid of unwanted possessions
- Contacting utilities ahead of time to turn off service
- Filling any prescriptions needed before the move
That’s just a sample of the many items you might find on a moving checklist.
One Room At A Time
A good strategy to employ for a move is to do one room at the time. Completely clear out a room and pack it up before moving on to the next one. It’s a systematic approach that breaks the work into doable chunks.
When cleaning out rooms, keep in mind to eliminate any duplicate items. It’s amazing how many of these pile up over the years, especially in the kitchen. Also, chances are moving into a smaller place means having fewer rooms, such as a second guest room or an office. Declutter belongings with this in mind.
Sell or Give Away Items
When the time comes, don’t hesitate to sell some of your items through a yard sale or through online markets such as eBay. A little extra cash can help pay the costs of your move. However, keep in mind that most items won’t bring in much cash, so limit the time you want to spend in this area. It might be better to consider giving many items away to charity or to family and friends.
These tips can help you start planning your move, while senior relocation services can help the entire process go much smoother.
Can I Fly with High Blood Pressure?
An estimated 75 million people live with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Most of them can fly with high blood pressure as long as they remember certain safety tips that reduce the risk of any issues while traveling by plane.
The symptoms of high blood pressure can worsen at high altitudes. For example, a person with hypertension might find it more difficult to breathe on a longer flight. However, having hypertension should not become a barrier to flying. Even longer flights are fine if people take the right precautions.
As with other medical conditions such as dementia or traumatic spinal cord injury, those who want to fly with high blood pressure can choose to travel with a flight nurse who provides in-flight medical care and ensures you arrive at your destination safely.
What is Hypertension?
The term “hypertension” or high blood pressure refers to a condition where the long-term force of blood against artery walls is so high that it can lead to health problems. Most people are familiar with getting their blood pressure readings done at the doctor’s office.
Blood pressure machines provide two numbers. The top number is systolic pressure that measures pressure in the arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is diastolic pressure that measures pressure in arteries between heartbeats.
In general, doctors consider a consistent reading of 140/90 or higher as hypertension. A normal level is generally between 90/60 and 120/80. These can vary depending on the person.
Safety Tips for Flying With High Blood Pressure
When you fly with high blood pressure, you should not worry too much about the health risks, which in itself can drive up your blood pressure! While you should always consult your physician about any concerns, most people with hypertension are perfectly safe to fly.
As Dr. Neal Chaisson with the Cleveland Clinic writes, “There’s virtually no problem with these patients traveling on a cruise, by air or even overseas.” The main issue is to stay with your medication schedule through the trip.
The doctor advises those with hypertension to carry a card that states they have pulmonary hypertension and also has their pharmacy’s number in case they lose their medication. The pharmacist should be able to help arrange a prescription refill at a nearby location. Also, make sure to bring medication in a carry-on bag, do not place it in checked baggage.
Flying with Oxygen & Medications
The following tips address things people can do during their flight.
- Stand up and move around when possible every two hours or so on longer flights
- Avoid salty snacks that can drive up blood pressure
- Sit in a way that allows for the best blood flow – do not cross your legs
- Avoid alcohol
- Take an ice pack on board to place on any areas where you begin to feel swelling, such as ankles
These tips can help avoid or relieve any symptoms you feel when you fly with high blood pressure. You also can contact a RN Flight Coordinator to find out more about how they can help you fly safely if you have hypertension.
Commercial Airline Passenger Assistance FAQs
Are you preparing to fly commercially and have questions about what to expect? This article contains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about commercial airline passenger assistance. If you are an older adult, please read this helpful guide for elderly air travel to get the best experience when flying. Securing assistance while traveling on a plane can be daunting, but we are here to help make it as easy as possible for you!
Can I Hire a Nurse to Fly With Me?
What do commercial airlines offer?
Knowing what different airlines offer can ensure you have the best experience; therefore, it is a common question individuals ask. Take a look at a comparison of four major commercial airlines.
American Airlines
The first airline we will look at is American Airlines. They provide a variety of services for disabled and elderly passengers. They offer help with mobility and medical devices such as wheelchairs. This includes assistance for transfers between your seat and an onboard wheelchair, as well as assistance moving the wheelchair to the lavatory door and back. To take advantage of this service, you will need to request a wheelchair in advance.
American also offers assistance with boarding and deplaning from all aircraft types. Before going through security, please let a ticketing agent know that you will need assistance on board, and they will provide you with a boarding pass that designates your special needs. You will also be given priority when it comes to seating.
Delta
Delta offers many of the same services as American Airlines and you will need to request special assistance in advance. In terms of services, Delta offers wheelchair and mobility assistance during every stage of your flight. You can bring medical equipment on board with you if the equipment meets health & safety requirements.
Delta also has multiple boarding options. They will allow you to board with other passengers, or they can pre-board you and try to help ensure that there is an empty seat next to you for extra space.
What Is The Best Seat on an Airplane?
Southwest
If you are flying on Southwest Airlines, assistance for the disabled begins when booking your ticket. You may select a special service as long as you meet their requirements. This service includes boarding and deplaning assistance, as well as help in the gate area and on the aircraft. Southwest also offers a pre-board option for those who need it. They will board you before any other passengers and like Delta, try to ensure there is an empty seat next to you.
United
United Airlines offers assistance to those with mobility and medical issues, such as wheelchair assistance at the airport and during the flight. Once again, however, this needs to be organized in advance. United also has a pre-board option for those who need it, as well as priority seating.
Can I have a flight Nurse on board with me?
Yes, you can hire a flight nurse to travel with you on commercial flights. It is worth considering if you want a more comprehensive service than what’s being offered by the airlines. While airlines are doing everything they can to improve air travel for seniors, you may need a more advanced level of personal care than what is currently available. This is where a non-emergency medical transport company can help.
Flight Nurse Duties On A Commercial Airline
What does a flight nurse do for me?
Flight nurses travel with patients in both emergency and non-emergency situations. They have specialized skills in providing medical care at high altitudes and managing a patient’s medications. In the case of non-emergency flight nurses, they help patients plan their trips, navigate through the airport and deliver any medical care needed during the flight.
Can You Hire a Flying Companion for Alzheimer’s Patients?
For those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, hiring a flying companion can help them better manage the challenges of air travel.