Moving at any age is tough. But relocating a senior parent or grandparent adds layers most people don’t see coming. You’re suddenly coordinating doctor visits across two cities. Legal documents need sorting. And somehow you need to figure out who’s driving what and when.
The transportation part trips up families more than anything else. One daughter’s flying in from overseas. Another son needs to shuttle between the old house and new apartment. Meanwhile, Mom needs her weekly cardiology appointment. Sound familiar?
Plan Transportation Routes Early
Six weeks before moving day, grab a notebook. Write down every single trip you’ll need to make. Your list will probably surprise you.
Medical appointments don’t stop just because you’re moving. Neither do final walkthroughs with real estate agents. Or those last-minute runs to sign paperwork at the lawyer’s office. Map out each trip’s distance and timing.
Family flying in from far away should book their travel first. If your brother’s coming from Australia to help, he’ll need a car ready at the airport. Services like premium Adelaide airport car rental let you reserve vehicles that actually fit mobility equipment. No surprises when he lands.
Set Up a Calendar Everyone Can See
Google Calendar works great for this. So does a shared iPhone calendar. The platform doesn’t matter much. What matters is that everyone updates it immediately.
Mark down these dates right away:
- When utilities get disconnected at the old place
- Final walk-through appointments
- Every doctor visit that can’t be rescheduled
- The day movers arrive
- When your lease officially ends
This prevents double-booking disasters. Trust me, you don’t want two people thinking the other one’s driving Dad to his appointment.
Choose Vehicles That Match Mobility Needs
Your father’s been using a walker for six months now. That doesn’t work with just any car. High SUVs? He can’t climb up into those. Low-slung sedans? Even worse for getting in and out.
Test drive before you commit to anything. Have your parent sit in both the front and back seats. Watch how they get in. Pay attention to whether they struggle. Check if the trunk fits their walker or wheelchair without folding it into origami.
The National Institute on Aging tracks senior injury data. Falls cause more problems than most people realize. Look for cars with actual grab handles. Make sure door frames feel sturdy. Automatic transmissions save energy during stop-and-go traffic.
Mid-size crossovers tend to work best. The seat height sits just right. Doors open wide enough for easy access. And there’s plenty of trunk space for medical equipment.
Organize Documents in One Accessible Place
Papers multiply like rabbits during a move. Insurance cards, prescription bottles, property deeds, flight confirmations. They scatter everywhere if you’re not careful.
Build a Simple Filing System
Buy one of those expandable accordion folders. The kind with labeled tabs inside. Or get a small plastic file box. Whatever feels easiest to grab and go.
Create these sections:
- Medical stuff (records, prescriptions, doctor contact info)
- Money and insurance documents
- Legal papers for the property
- All travel documents and IDs
- New address information
This folder stays in the car with you. Never pack it in the moving truck. Make photocopies of everything important. Originals sometimes disappear during chaos.
Your mom’s on five different medications? Write them all down with dosages. New pharmacies need that list fast. Tape an emergency contact card inside her purse too. Include your cell number and her primary doctor’s office.
Coordinate Airport Pickups and Arrivals Carefully
Flying adds stress nobody needs during a move. Book direct flights if you possibly can. Layovers drain seniors fast. Morning flights run more reliably than evening ones too.
Someone needs to meet your parent at baggage claim. Not outside at pickup. Actually inside where they collect their luggage. Airports feel overwhelming when you’re 78 and tired.
Most airports provide wheelchair assistance. You just have to call 48 hours ahead. Don’t skip this step because you think Mom can manage. Save her energy for unpacking later.
Account for Extra Time
International flights take forever to clear customs. Domestic connections get delayed constantly. Always add an hour to whatever time you think pickup will take.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes safety guidelines for older travelers. Temperature matters more than people think. Make sure whoever’s picking up has working air conditioning or heat.
Confirm all vehicle details the day before. Text the driver with the updated flight status. Nothing’s worse than waiting at the wrong terminal.
Build Rest Stops into Every Travel Day
Your dad might say he’s fine driving four hours straight. He’s not. Nobody over 70 should push through long trips without breaks.
Stop every 90 minutes minimum. Find rest areas with actual bathrooms. Gas stations with restaurants nearby work better than random highway exits.
Pack Smart for Road Trips
Keep a small cooler within reach. Fill it with practical stuff:
- Bottled water (seniors dehydrate faster than they realize)
- Crackers and cheese for blood sugar dips
- Any medications that need refrigeration
- Blood pressure cuff if they monitor at home
- Paper towels for spills
Arthritis makes twist-off caps nearly impossible. Buy bottles with flip tops instead. Switch drivers every few hours if you can. Break multi-day trips into shorter chunks with hotel stays.
Your mom’s blood sugar drops? Pull over immediately. Pushing through “just 30 more minutes” causes more problems than a short delay.
Getting Started with Your Plan
Transportation planning should start the same day you book movers. Not the week before. Not three days out. The same day.
Families who plan early report way less stress. They’ve already tested rental cars. Documents are organized. Airport pickups are confirmed. Nothing gets forgotten in the rush.
Small details prevent big emergencies. Accessible medications save trips to urgent care. Direct flights reduce confusion. Frequent rest stops prevent accidents and exhaustion.
Your parent deserves to arrive at their new home safely. They should feel comfortable, not wiped out. That happens when you treat transportation like the priority it actually is.