For most of us, holidays are a wonderful opportunity to spend time with our nearest and dearest. But for many older adults their holidays can be highly stressful, confusing, or even depressing if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into account. Help your aging relative to enjoy their holiday this year by following these few simple tips

Mobility Equipment

• If your visitor has physical difficulties, it might be an idea to hire a wheelchair or some other piece of  mobility equipment for them. Of course this should be discussed with them in advance because whilst to some it may be a welcome relief to others it would feel insulting.
• If your visitor is travelling with a wheelchair make sure that the vehicle that collects them from the airport is suitable for them to get in/out or be lifted in/out. Similarly it needs to have space to fit the wheelchair in the boot. Alternatively you can arrange suitable airport transfers

Special dietary requirements

• Many people these days suffer from allergies to nuts, wheat, etc. They may be under doctors advice to restrict the amount of fat or sugar in their diet or avoid certain foods which could conflict with their medication. Whatever the restriction, make sure you are aware of it in advance.

General Day to Day Activities

• Discuss the day's plan with them in advance to make sure they don't have any objections. They might not fancy spending the morning wandering around the local rastro, preferring instead to climb to the top of Calpe Rock or relax by the pool. 
• If you have not seen them for a while you may notice that they are not as active as you remember.  Don’t make any strenous plans until you have had the opportunity to spend a day or two with them to assess their fitness level.  It can really put a crimp in your plans if you have planned a mountain hike only to discover that your father has developed arthritis in his knees and struggles to walk more than 100 yards.  
• Similarly, don't assume that because they have gained a few years they are not going to be capable of doing anything other than dozing on a sunbed. Talk to them about their day to day activities at home to get an indication of what they enjoy doing and how much they can do.

Coping with the Heat

• Remember, as we get older we tire more easily, when it is hot it can be even worse. Make sure that you schedule plenty of rest stops and time off into your days, with shady places to cool down, rehydrate and if necessary take to the Spanish way of life and enjoy a siesta.
• If this is their first holiday in Spain they are probably unaware of how quickly they can burn so don't forget that hat (or knotted hanky) and suntan lotion.

Have a Chat

• Take the time to talk to them. Remember they have come to visit you, not meet all your friends or go out dancing all night.  You could get out the old family photos and take a stroll down memory lane of holidays gone by. An older person whose memory is impaired will often have trouble remembering recent events but take great delight in telling stories from the past and don’t forget children love hearing tales of “when your Mum was little….”.

Keep them Involved

• The elderly are so often pushed to one side and treated like part of the furniture or a burden on society. While they are with you, let them help as much or as little as they want to, make them feel that they are still valued members of your family.

Drinking and Drugs

• Monitor medications. Obviously, being on holiday means a complete change to their daily routine. For example, if they normally take their blood pressure tablet when they sit down to watch the 6 o’clock news, this can easily be forgotten when you are walking along the beach and not sitting in front of the TV.  Be sure to help them adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays.
• Pay attention to alcohol consumption so as not to interfere with medications.

The Last Word

• The most important thing to remember is to be sensitive and loving, with that in mind I am sure your elderly visitor will have a great time.