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accompanied travel for ageing mum

accompanied travel for ageing mum

Old Aug 31st 2007, 7:12 am
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Default accompanied travel for ageing mum

Can anybody advise me - we're looking at emmigrating to auz (me, OH, kids & hopefully my mum) but if my mum can't come aswell we will have to consider setting up over there & mum coming over for regular lengthy hoildays.

My mums had absolutley no air travel experience & is very reluctant to make the journey on her own (particularly with the transfer).

She's had a stroke and other health problems which has left her with memory problems etc. and we're all concerned that she would become very confused at the airports, or what to do if there were any delays etc etc.

Does anybody know if any of the airlines offer support to people like my mum, e.g. getting to & from the plane, baggage collection etc, or of any companies which offer this service?

Any advice would be very much appreciated

Kathy Sadler
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Old Aug 31st 2007, 1:32 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

I can't answer your question, but I'm sure if you phone the airways they would be able to give you much more info. I'm sure there is an airway that would.

Sorry i can't be much help.

Stacey
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Old Aug 31st 2007, 2:55 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Originally Posted by stacey and jordan
I can't answer your question, but I'm sure if you phone the airways they would be able to give you much more info. I'm sure there is an airway that would.

Sorry i can't be much help.

Stacey
Thanks, haven't travelled much so hadn't thought of the obvious!! Will do that, hopefully they'll come up with something!

Kathyx
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Old Aug 31st 2007, 5:33 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Originally Posted by sadlers
Can anybody advise me - we're looking at emmigrating to auz (me, OH, kids & hopefully my mum) but if my mum can't come aswell we will have to consider setting up over there & mum coming over for regular lengthy hoildays.

My mums had absolutley no air travel experience & is very reluctant to make the journey on her own (particularly with the transfer).

She's had a stroke and other health problems which has left her with memory problems etc. and we're all concerned that she would become very confused at the airports, or what to do if there were any delays etc etc.

Does anybody know if any of the airlines offer support to people like my mum, e.g. getting to & from the plane, baggage collection etc, or of any companies which offer this service?

Any advice would be very much appreciated

Kathy Sadler
Hi Kathy

We sent my then 83 year old dad over to stay with my brother in Cairns, last Christmas. He had to change planes at Alice Springs which was a bit of a worry for us as he got lost in Darwin the other year on his way up to Nhulunbhoy in the Territory!

We were really worried about him at Christmas as he didn't know where he was after leaving the coffee lounge at Perth airport and just walking to the check-in entrance.......... he was disorientated then and he hadn't even caught the plane?

We needn't have worried though as the Qantas staff were magic. We explained dad was relatively okay for his age........ but early stages of dementia were maybe creeping in following a mild stroke?

From then on dad got VIP treatment all the way......... made a big fuss over him and even got him a wheelchair to get from one plane to the other in Alice Springs. A hostie spent time with him too so as to make sure he didn't wander off and end up in Sydney or somewhere?

I'm sure the airlines would do the same for the elderly on an international flight too.

Dads almost 85 now and he is staying with us while he undergoes a course of intravenous anti-biotics following a 3 week stay in hospital. We'd like to put him in Care as we feel he needs it.......... but he won't have a bar of it? He wants to remain independent. He won't even let us order meals on wheels for him at this stage........... and he can't wait to get home to his unit down Dianella way. He doesn't like living with us as he feels he is imposing?
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Old Aug 31st 2007, 6:20 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Cheers Bobcat I feel so much better about the thought of mum travelling alone. Really sorry to hear that your dads been poorly and completley understand about the whole care/independence thing, I used to work with the elderly and my mums been living with us for the last few months and often says she feels as though she's imposing.

I think if my Dad had lasted through he would have been of a very similar mind to your Dad - big on independence (and stubborn to boot!!!)

Do you have any Extra Care Housing Schemes up where you are? They're relatively new over here in the UK, my OH, Brett's a project manager for a massive scheme over here in Wales - they're fab - all about independence rather than the typical care home type environment, although saying that, if you're dad doesn't like the idea of you ordering meals on wheels, he probably won't consider it!

Thanks alot & hope your Dad feels better soon
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Old Aug 31st 2007, 9:51 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

My mum did the same thing when she was visiting. She is deaf and was worried about not hearing the announcements. so she had someone meeting her in singapore, and she wasn't allowed out of their sight, even to go to the bathroom .

then she was 'handed' over to me at brisbane. It was really funny. I wish they had stuck a sticker with her name and address on her

I know how stressful it must be for elderly relatives coming over, but she has always had great service, by any airline she travels on.
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Old Sep 1st 2007, 6:16 am
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Thanks Amandabee

Hadn't thought of the not hearing thing, that's something Mum does struggle with, even in the doctor's surgery!!!

Thanks again,
Kathy Sadler
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Old Sep 1st 2007, 11:01 am
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

You may have other problems other than actual travel.
Persons aged over 70 must have a medical certificate issued by their GP to obtain a visitors visa ,this involves a medical examination.
You can view and download a copy of the form at the Australian High Comission London's web site. Travel insurance is also very expensive for older people especially if they have pre existing medical conditions.
If you intend your mum to stay with you permanently in Oz she will have to pass the normal Immigration medical and pass the balance of family test.
Australia do not make it very easy for our parents to emigrate to be with their children. However I hope you are able to reslove all the problems that may arise.
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Old Sep 1st 2007, 12:33 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Originally Posted by woodring
You may have other problems other than actual travel.
Persons aged over 70 must have a medical certificate issued by their GP to obtain a visitors visa ,this involves a medical examination.
Not sure if you mean a standard short term visitors visa, which all travellers need to enter Oz, but if you do, this must have changed in the last 2 years. My 77 year old mother came and just got a standard Electronic Travel Authority, nothing from drs. She did struggle (and pay a fortune for) travel insurance though.
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Old Sep 1st 2007, 12:50 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Originally Posted by Pomster
Not sure if you mean a standard short term visitors visa, which all travellers need to enter Oz, but if you do, this must have changed in the last 2 years. My 77 year old mother came and just got a standard Electronic Travel Authority, nothing from drs. She did struggle (and pay a fortune for) travel insurance though.
Just over 11 years ago my dad was quoted a two year waiting list if he wanted to go through the rigmoral of applying to emigrate to Australia to join his two sons here?

He was 74 years old then. Off the record we were advised to get him to sell up everything in Preston; come over here on a tourist visa........... and apply for PM once in Perth? (The really nice immigration people here in Perth advised us that......... not the mob in Manchester or wherever they may be these days!)

We did that. Dad sold the house in Preston, sold all the furniture and flew down to Perth as a tourist! He applied for PM here in Perth and was granted it 2 years later. I had to get a mate of mine to put a bond up and lodge it on his behalf............ I was unable to do that because at the time I was long-term unemployed .......... or in-between jobs as they say over here....... whatever it was I didn't have a job and i wasn't earning any income so I couldn't help dad out with his bond?

We were advised that it could be on the cards we had to take dad for a weekend in Singapore or somewhere offshore; so as to satisfy the pre-requisites applicable to his visa application? As it happened that wasn't necessary.

That's just an insight into how we got an elderly relative into the country legally; on the off chance others in the UK right now are in the same dilemma we were?.

To be really honest......I was extremely surprised the officials showed some compassion re our case because it's a well charted fact they aren't normally renowned for showing such traits?
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Old Sep 1st 2007, 1:43 pm
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

pomstr

Don't know if it is recent but we have just jumped through all these hoops to get my MIL out for a two month visit to see her 2 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren . I understand that if you are over 70 and apply for an ETA it will refer you to AHC London.
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Old Sep 2nd 2007, 5:19 am
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Hi Kathy

We have exactly the same issues. My mum is only mid fifties but she has had a stroke and brain surgery and will be unable to travel alone. She wouldnt be able to navigate her way to change planes etc. Contacted Singapore airlines - they said they couldnt take her as did qantas.
My inlaws are bringing her over this xmas and taking her back but she would like to stay for longer. Next time I might have to bring her over and take her back myself - argghhhhhh!
If you have any luck with airlines etc keep us posted.

Tracy



Originally Posted by sadlers
Can anybody advise me - we're looking at emmigrating to auz (me, OH, kids & hopefully my mum) but if my mum can't come aswell we will have to consider setting up over there & mum coming over for regular lengthy hoildays.

My mums had absolutley no air travel experience & is very reluctant to make the journey on her own (particularly with the transfer).

She's had a stroke and other health problems which has left her with memory problems etc. and we're all concerned that she would become very confused at the airports, or what to do if there were any delays etc etc.

Does anybody know if any of the airlines offer support to people like my mum, e.g. getting to & from the plane, baggage collection etc, or of any companies which offer this service?

Any advice would be very much appreciated

Kathy Sadler
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Old Sep 2nd 2007, 5:55 am
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Smile Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

My Mum (now aged 76) has been over three years running now, each time with Singapore Airlines. She is a little infirm, losing her sight and easily muddled.

Singapore Airlines offer a service (the name escapes me right now )which escorts elderly,disabled or infirm people on their journey. They are issued with a big yellow sticker. They board and exit the plane first, get help with form filling, wheelchair supplied if needed and are accompanied during stop-overs (not sure if there's a time limit on this?)

She obtained her insurance from the Post Office...no idea though if this good or bad though?

My Mum has no complaints apart from maybe having to sport the huge yellow sticker and we hope to see her here again next year

Jan
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Old Sep 2nd 2007, 7:18 am
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for your reply, do you think the main reason that Singapore & Quantas refused to take your mum was due to her brain surgery rather than her having had a stroke? Are you sure they are allowed to make such a refusal?

There appears to be various views and opinions based on differing experiences on this issue - some people having had difficulty, while others have found the services offered to be excellent.

Do you know how they reach their decision as to whether or not they will offer their service to an individual? Surely they must have a set of guidelines to follow in line with health and safety issues, but in balance of discrimination and human rights laws??

Bit confused about it all really, I think I'll have to try contacting the airlines, but judging by the different responses I'll be interested to see how consistent they are between my initial enquiries and finally making booking arrangements!!

If push comes to shove, we might have to do the same thing as yourselves, although that's going to be a very expensive option for us

If you have any more info about this issue and the process you went through i'd be really appreciative

Thanks alot

Kathyx
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Old Sep 2nd 2007, 7:30 am
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Default Re: accompanied travel for ageing mum

Hi Jan,

Thanks for your reply, Tracy had mentioned that she had experienced problems with her mum gaining support from the airlines - do you think this could have anything to do her mums particular condition?

Do you think you are more likely to recieve the support service if you are careful how you describe the illness/incapacity etc.?

My mum's difficulties are probably more similar to your mums than Tracy's (memory, mild confusion & quite frail).

How much do you have to declare when requesting the service? Do you have to provide any medical information/proof etc?

Thanks again

Kathy
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