Guilt-free Vacation Planning for Caregivers
If there’s ever been a time when family caregivers really deserve a break, it’s probably now. As the country reopens and the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control, caregivers finally have the opportunity to escape locked-down home life for a well-deserved vacation.
If only it were that simple.
It can seem unrealistic or impossible for primary caregivers to plan for time off when faced with all their responsibilities. Caring for aging loved ones can feel like a 24/7 job on its own. Getting even a day or two of free time can be hard enough to manage. The prospect of taking a planned vacation can seem unrealistic, if not impossible.
Even thinking of taking a vacation can be a source of guilt or anxiety. If I’m not here to take care of them, who will? What if someone falls or forgets to take their medication? Who will cook and clean?
Those are understandable concerns, but the truth is family caregivers need vacations and breaks, too. It’s important to be able to rest and recharge, avoiding the threat of burnout and stress-related health problems. With some careful preparation, it’s possible for family caregivers to enjoy taking some guilt-free time off.
Plan Ahead
Start making plans well in advance, even if you’re just thinking of a long weekend away. Keep your loved ones in the loop about your travel plans, where you are going, and how long you’ll be away. Come up with a list of the kinds of assistance your loved ones require while you’re absent.
If your loved ones are reasonably independent and don’t need constant care, it might be sufficient to recruit a (fully vaccinated) family member or close friend to stop by occasionally to check on them, provide any needed transportation or prepare some meals.
If your loved ones can’t be left alone overnight, recruit two or three vaccinated individuals to take turns with the responsibility of caring for them at night. Another option would be to hire in-home care while you’re gone. Paid caregivers from certified companies can assist with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping and transportation.
Be Organized
Before taking a trip, be sure to organize important healthcare and emergency information. Compile a folder of everything that the person caring for your loved ones in your absence would need. This can include:
- Emergency contacts, such as relatives and family friends
- A list of the health care providers that your loved ones would use
- Information about their preferred hospital and pharmacy
- Medical, dental and vision insurance cards
- A list of medications and prescriptions
- Legal documents including living wills, powers of attorney and other advance directives.
COVID-19 Precautions
As the country reopens, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is still recommending that travel be delayed until you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means:
- 2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
When traveling, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated travelers should still take customary safety precautions against COVID-19:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public.
- Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling with you.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). The CDC guidance recommends avoiding modes of travel that put you in long-term contact with people from outside of your household. This means prioritizing means of travel:
Safer
- Short road trips with members of your household or fully vaccinated people with few stops along the way
- If you must fly, try to take flights with the fewest stops or layovers
Less Safe
- Longer trips by car or RV with many stops along the way
- Trips by car or RV with people who are not vaccinated or not from your household
- Flights with layovers
Avoid
- Long-distance train or bus trips
- Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat
Be Happy
Most importantly, the best preparation for time off is to let go of guilt and anxiety. Caregivers must be able to prioritize their own physical and emotional health. No one should begrudge your decision to take time away. Taking a break will keep you healthier in the long-run.