You spent months planning your dream vacation, and suddenly – You’re dealing with an unexpected illness or injury. Maybe you’ve just been released from the hospital after a bout of pneumonia, a car accident has left you in crutches, or antibiotics have left you weak with a sudden change in your everyday mobility.
Don’t Panic and Don't Cancel Your Trip!
Don’t Hesitate to Call. I'm a Special Needs Travel Agent (SNTA)!
- Expert Travel Pro.
- Less Worry. More Rest.
- Travel Tips for DME.
You Need Help to Re-Plan!
First of all, get out of your head that you need to cancel your trip. There are many options to change, reschedule, or better yet, keep your current plans with:
- Integrating Durable Medical Equipment (DME) – specific for your travels.
- Change some of the activities on your itinerary.
- Reshuffle your active plans to more relaxing ones.
I want to help you, if you are up to it and with your doctor’s permission, to keep your plans and not stress over messing them up.
Disclaimer:
This blog post discusses travel logistics related to health challenges and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for planning purposes only. It does not provide medical advice. The information shared here is not a substitute for consulting with your doctor, physical therapist, or qualified healthcare provider regarding your medical condition, specific equipment needs, or fitness for travel. Always defer to the advice of your personal medical team.
Travel Agent vs. Booking Yourself: Why Specialist Support is Crucial:
You need to reduce your stress and not worry about the details!
Illness can toss a wrench into your plans. Canceling flights, hotels, and cruises can add unnecessary stress and result in financial loss or hefty fees.
As your special needs travel agent, I can help navigate the adjustments you need by:
- Changing, arranging, or rearranging, depending on how you feel.
- Helping reduce extra costs and negotiating waivers.
- Being the sounding board you need to understand the “why” behind the policy changes.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for Travel: What You Need to Know!
You Can Go On Your Trip!
Doesn’t matter if you need a walker for a few weeks after surgery or actively use one in your daily life. You have it for a reason, and you can bring it on your vacation.
I can help you manage your DME for travel by helping you rent, repair, or buy equipment at your destination.
What If Your Essential DME Equipment Breakdowns?
Equipment will break – even during trips! This is especially stressful when relying on complex gear from your Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapist.
- Did your 4-wheeled walker or wheelchair lose a tire?
- Did your specialized wrist splint fray?
- Did your Electrolarynx break, or do you need a replacement pair for your voice prosthesis?
Addressing important and detailed equipment information will be a high-priority conversation for a successful trip!
I can help arrange and research replacements – pending availability, prescription from your doctor, or orders from your therapist. Some items may be available on your cruise, or I can research to arrange local delivery for your next port/destination stop.
Renting vs. Bringing: Choosing the Right Equipment Strategy:
When your needs are short-term due to recovery, sometimes renting equipment is the best solution.
- Rent the equipment you need. Keep yours at home safely!
- Pay for extras! It’s for your convenience and to reduce your stress.
- Hotels and cruises will have specialized staff who I arrange to help you.
Are you renting home equipment temporarily? Leave it at home to ensure no damage is done, and pay more out of your pocket.
Need Transfer Help From the Bed to a Wheelchair?
Long-Term Injuries Are No Match! ADA-Compliant Travel and Mobility Solutions:
Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or recent strokes are attainable with ADA-Compliant (American Disabilities Act) hotels, cruises, and more: elevators, DME, motorized carts, ramps, and designated parking.
I can search for advanced accessibility features, including:
- Hotels with mobile or rental accessibility – Maxi Hoyer Lift.
- Pool chairs to enjoy swimming with your family.
- Special transfer lift to help you sit or stand. To help bear some weight and build strength in your legs.
- If you have upper body strength but can’t walk too far – Let’s arrange a Sara Stedy transfer chair.
You can go on a trip with help from my speciality — Special Needs Travel.
Need to Rest and Heal? Let’s Plan a Relaxing and Low-Key Trip:
I have you covered. I can arrange restful cruises or decrease traveling activities to help you:
- Destress and heal.
- Plan Slower-paced road trips.
- Visit fewer towns and spend more time relaxing in bed and breakfasts.
- Enjoy your trip without all the hustle and bustle.
Why Keeping Your Trip Local is Important: Safety First!
While cruises can be restful, I would highly encourage local cruises for no more than 7 days, or I can recommend long-distance local train options for free.
- In the event of an emergency, staying local ensures you are close to your established medical network.
- It’s incredibly expensive to me to med-flight off of a cruise line to a strange city without a close connection to your doctor.
Practical Insurance Talk:
It’s standard practice to talk about travel insurance in detail.
- If something happens, we will need all options available and per the protocol of the local you wish to visit.
- Staying within your medical insurance local limits will help you financially in the long run.
- Having a backup plan while you are not 100%.
Specialized Transportation and Medical Trips Arrangements:
I can also arrange your medical trips. Whether you are visiting a specialist, needing hospital care in another country, or simply visiting a medical spa, I handle the logistics.
If you are traveling a distance to make your flight, we can arrange an ADA-Compliant hotel the day before, and secure the specialized transport you might need, such as:
- A wheelchair van
- An Ambulance
- Long-distance train transport
We Don’t Like to Plan for Illness:
But it happens, and you don’t want to be left unprepared by planning and then “unplanning” your dream vacation.
Ready to stop unplanning your vacation?
Contact me today for a complimentary consultation.
Until next time!
Ramon
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