How to find travel companions for older travelers

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I am interested in finding some type of travel companion service to help my elderly parents fly across the country. They are both in their 80s and have health issues, so they will need help getting there. Do you have any tips that can help us?

Traveling can be challenging under the best circumstances, but for seniors with medical problems, physical limitations or dementia it can be unmanageable. several companies provide traveling companion/escort services to help older adults with the rigors of travel.

A travel escort can provide your parents with transportation to and from the airport, manage their luggage, navigate and assist them through the airport, sit next to them on the flight, help them to their hotel and more. Some companion services provide personal care like medication management, dressing, bathing and feeding. For those with specific medical needs, traveling nurse services are available as well.

Note that these services can be costly. You will pay for the travel companion's travel tickets, hotel room, meals, incidentals and fees for the service. The price to accompany a client on a plane trip within the United States – including the companion fees and travel costs for all parties – can range anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the flight transfers and length of the trip.

To locate a travel companion service in your area, you can use a search engine and keywords such as "senior travel companion" or "senior travel escort," followed by your parent's city or state. You can also use an experienced national service with a network of franchises that offers travel companion programs.

For medical travel companions, you may want to search using keywords such as "traveling nurse escort" or "medical travel companion."

If, however, your parents do not require extensive assistance or if you cannot afford a travel escort, consider asking someone who has some air travel experience, perhaps a trusted family member or friend.

Vet the Service If you are interested in hiring a travel companion service, there are a number of things to check into to ensure you get the right escort.

First, if your parents require personal or medical care while traveling, find out if the escort is trained to manage their specific needs. You should verify if the companion has medical certifications, nursing credentials, CPR training, first aid certification or any other relevant designations.

Find out how many trips the companion has taken with clients, the length of the trip and any other particulars. Gather information to verify if they completed trips with travelers with similar needs to your parents. You should find out how long has the travel service company been in business, its safety record, and its type of insurance and covered incidents.

If you feel comfortable with the company and the traveling companion, get a quote breaking down exactly what you will be required to pay, in addition to the companion's fees. Make sure you receive a list of two or three client references who have used their service, and call them.

“Savvy Living” is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to NBC’s “Today Show.” The column, and others like it, is available to read via The American Legion’s Planned Giving program, a way of establishing your legacy of support for the organization while providing for your current financial needs. Learn more about the process, and the variety of charitable programs you can benefit, at legion.org/plannedgiving. Clicking on “Learn more” will bring up an “E-newsletter” button, where you can sign up for regular information from Planned Giving.