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Heading out on an adventure? Accompanying a patient who’s planning to travel? If you or someone you care for has a medical condition, you may be feeling unsure about how to manage the condition while you’re away.
Unfortunately, this mindset is all too common. Patients worry about what will happen if they become unwell while away, or whether they’ll be strong enough to handle the entire trip without experiencing pain, exhaustion, or other symptoms. All that worry can circumvent the ability to enjoy yourself while away.
Accessibility doesn’t always come easy, and it isn’t always easy to predict whether a destination will be disability-friendly, either. Traveling with an illness isn’t simple, but it’s possible for most patients to enjoy travel all the same.
The good news is that thousands of Americans travel successfully with medical conditions ranging across a broad spectrum of severity each year. That’s why medical supply manufacturers are now creating specialized travel medical equipment designed with the traveler in mind. From airport compatibility to ease of use, these travel medical equipment pieces make travel safer, easier, and more reliable for patients, caregivers, and family members, too.
Portable Wheelchair
Whether you rely on your wheelchair all of the time or only part-time, a portable wheelchair is still ideal for travel. Part-time wheelchair users will find it most useful for occasional rests from walking or support for long ventures throughout the day, while caregivers of full-time users may find it easier to navigate, transport, and move through small spaces.
Unlike full-size manual chairs or power chairs, portable wheelchairs are extremely lightweight and fold up into a tiny amount of space. That makes them easy to stash in overhead compartments, trunks, and in some cases, even suitcases.
The one caveat is that they don’t provide a great deal of overall body support for the legs or arms. This unfortunate fact may make them an unsuitable piece of travel medical equipment for patients with neuromuscular conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Portable Bed Rails
Bed rails make for a safer, more comfortable sleep, but standard rails just aren’t suitable for use in hotels — or for that matter, even transportation at all. They’re often big, bulky, and require permanent installation onto your bed. It just doesn’t make sense to take permanent bed rails with you when you go.
Instead, use portable bed rails. These smaller versions of full-size bed rails provide modest security without compromising comfort. Most brands simply slip under the mattress and above the box spring, providing a sturdy place to rest your hand when rising or sitting down. They’ll also keep toddlers and young children securely in bed throughout the night.
Because portable bed rails don’t install via hardware, they may not provide enough support for every patient. If you just need a small helping hand, they’re small, easy to transport, and can be fitted to nearly any bed set.
Folding Shower Chair
Showering in hotel bathrooms or a bathroom you aren’t used to can be frightening if you have mobility problems. Sometimes, even the addition of grip bars isn’t enough to make you feel safe. Given that the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house for slips and falls, this fear is unfortunately well-founded.
Luckily, there is travel medical equipment available that allows you to ameliorate the risk of bathroom falls while away. By using a portable folding shower chair, you can shower without worry. These devices collapse down flat for transportation in a trunk, unfolding in seconds when needed. Drainage holes in the seat allow water to drip away freely, while any cushioning on the back and seat both increase comfort.
Parents may also find folding shower chairs useful for little ones who struggle with mobility or balance at the beach, at the lake, or even in a friend’s yard under the hose. This simple solution allows kids to be kids without potential damage to a power chair or manual chair, but it does require that kids be able to remain upright on their own.
Airline-Approved Walkers and Canes
For patients who maintain some mobility while traveling, carting along a wheelchair may simply be more than they need. Airline-approved walkers and canes support patients in navigating airports, airline walkways, and daily travel while maintaining increased independence.
If you choose to bring along a walker or a cane, know that TSA rules state that all devices must be collapsible enough to fit under the seat or into an overhead compartment. Standard wheelchairs, powerchairs, walkers, and canes that don’t fold down must be checked at the gate and placed into cargo, but most airlines provide a temporary wheelchair to use in place of your regular device.
If you do bring airline-approved medical devices, follow good airplane etiquette when you use them. Clarify the rules with a flight attendant if you’re not sure, but as a general rule, ask an attendant to assist you with bathroom trips and only use your cane when the seatbelt light isn’t on.
Travel Ramps
For patients who use wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices, getting up and down stairs is one of the biggest challenges of traveling. Often, patients just struggle through with help from caregivers, loved ones, or staff, but travel ramps make it possible to bridge this gap for better independence.
Unlike permanently installed ramps (or DIY solutions like wood planks), travel ramps fold down into a very small square that’s often tiny enough to slip into the back pocket of a wheelchair seat. The patient can effectively bring it with them anywhere they go, through a portable ramp of this size won’t be large enough for every application.
For patients traveling by RV, van, or larger vehicles, a vehicle-appropriate ramp is best. These store in the trunk of a vehicle and can be quite heavy, but provide a more suitable solution for longer-term use when camping or traveling extensively throughout the country.
Incontinence Products
Nearly 25 million Americans struggle with urinary incontinence. The CDC reports that over half of those patients are over the age of 65, while a significant portion are women of childbearing age who have given birth to multiple children. Still others struggle with medical conditions like kidney disease or cancer.
Patients who struggle with fecal or urinary incontinence often become isolated because they fear accidents while out of the house. This thought process can lead to a cycle of shame and fear that significantly reduces quality of life. It makes the prospect of going away for multiple days at a time seem daunting, especially if there’s plenty of time away from a toilet planned.
Patients shouldn’t feel intimidated by the idea of an accident. Basic incontinence supplies can restore confidence while maintaining dignity.
If you’re a caregiver, treat any accidents with dignity and patience. Incontinence is no different than any other medical symptom from the point of a medical professional — so it should be addressed matter-of-factly with a hefty dose of compassion.
At the simple end of the spectrum are products like bed pads, diapers, and clean-up kits that make tidying up after the occasional accident quick and easy. Lay the bed pads out over the bed to prevent stains throughout the night, and keep a small clean-up kit close to the patient at all times during travel for accident prevention and clean-up.
For camping and other long-term travel plans where accessing a toilet may be difficult, yet a modicum of privacy exists, portable travel medical equipment such as commodes work best. Many patients find just the idea of having a commode nearby enough to relax and restore their confidence.
Comfort Care Products
Not every piece of equipment relates directly to a medical condition when traveling. What makes the most difference can sometimes be comfort care products like pillows, neck supports, water bottles, and support devices. These are especially helpful for patients with neurological deficits that cause weakness and those who struggle with chronic pain.
Choosing Travel Medical Equipment
We live in a world where it’s more possible than ever to travel despite medical conditions, no matter how serious. Whether it’s just a picnic at the park or a vacation to Scotland, your local pharmacy can help you find the right travel medical equipment to make your excursion easier for patients and their caregivers. If you’re not sure which travel medical equipment is needed or where to start, drop by your local pharmacy for a consultation.