Fitness to travel - assessment in the elderly and medically impaired

Abstract

Background: As more people travel, and with an expanding aged population, the number of older travellers, including those with significant medical or physical impairment will increase significantly.

Objective: This article addresses the assessment of fitness to travel in these groups, particularly with regard to their varying standard of fitness and/or disability. These factors should influence all travel plans.

Discussion: Factors for consideration are: destination and itinerary; the traveller's current medical condition, state of health, mobility (if impaired), medication, preparation necessary, level of fitness; and assessment of precautions or protection needed for temperature and/or weather extremes, altitude and other influencing factors. The trip conditions, both possible and probable, should be assessed and matched with these factors before booking the trip - long before the planned departure. If the vacation is to be enjoyed, the destination and itinerary must be comfortably achievable within these confines for the individual(s) concerned.