Some group tours and cruise lines cater to the elderly or disabled traveler. Before traveling long distances with a person who has a chronic condition, however, consult the person's doctor.
Travel Emergencies
In the event of an emergency abroad, contact American Citizen Services (ACS) in the foreign offices of American consulates and embassies.
American Citizens Services will assist with:
- lists of doctors, dentists, hospitals, and clinics
- informing the family if an American becomes ill or injured while traveling
- helping arrange transportation to the United States on a commercial flight (must be paid by the traveler)
- explaining various options and costs for return of remains or burial
- helping locate you, the caregiver, if you are traveling when a family member becomes ill
Travel and Living Wills
If a person becomes disabled with a life-threatening illness while traveling, the medical personnel in foreign countries may not accept the validity of an advance directive (or any other form a personal attorney has drawn up). If a person is traveling and has an illness that requires breathing devices or other life-prolonging treatments, it may be impossible to end the treatment without a medical evacuation back to the United States. However, there a few basic precautions you can take to ensure that a person's wishes are carried out:
- Take a copy of the living will on the trip. Let any other traveling companions know where it is packed.
- Take health-care directive documents with you.
- If traveling in the United States, consider signing the form used in the state where you might be traveling.
