The Christmas-New Year period is peak travel season for Australian families  and singles – including those living with Parkinson’s.

Here are some quick tips on travelling with Parkinson’s to make your journeys easier and safer.

• Always carry your Parkinson’s Passport. Don’t have one yet? It can be downloaded from the Parkinson’s NSW web site here.
• Use a ‘fanny’ pack or backpack so that you have both hands free to balance as you walk, especially if walking any distance.
• Pack snacks and carry a water bottle to take medications.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and good walking shoes.
• When making hotel reservations, request a room on the ground floor or near the lifts. Ask if they have rooms that are handicapped-accessible because these usually include grab bars in the shower and bathroom and have wider spaces between furniture for wheelchair access.

Traveling With Parkinson’s Medications

• Always have at least a day’s dosage of medication in your pocket or purse.
• When flying, try to carry all of your medications in your cabin baggage, in the event that your check-through luggage gets misplaced.
• Pack enough medications to last the entire trip – ideally more than you will actually need in case of delays in your itinerary.
• Do not rely on out-of-town – or especially out-of-the-country – pharmacies for medication refills.
• Find out if your medications are temperature sensitive and plan to carry them in cooled or insulated packs accordingly.
• Use a watch with an alarm or an alarm pillbox. If you are traveling across time changes it may be difficult for you to remember on your own. It is best to stick to your routine according to the time zone you are in, not your home time zone.