Summer’s End As summer is at an all time high with temperature’s to prove it, planning those late august and September Vacations can become a tedious job. Vacations are supposed to be spontaneous and fun AND restful. Planning does take some quick insight and thought whether you are a differently-abled person or caretaker, so use your time wisely …think things though from the beginning of your trip (packing & travel) to the end (travel & unpacking). Here’s a quick tip list to aid you in planning & you might want to post it inside your cabinet to use for future needs.

1. Pick your travel dates---keep in mind if your insurance or Medicare has limitations.

2. Time your trip---plan your travel time to coincide with medication, sleep or eating schedules. Give yourself plenty of time for mishaps.

3. Pack up---let everyone pack their own belongings need on top of their bed so they person in charge of packing has an idea of each persons own desires & needs.

4. Use It or Lose It---each person needs to pack compact items in a separate bag of munchies, sanitary wipes, bottled water for meds, medications, med history card, photo I.D., change of clothes, and even an umbrella.

5. Emergency Travel Kit--for cuts, burns, etc.

6. Emergency Food Bag---pack extra food & drink for getting stuck in traffic, emergency stops, or accidents.Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which tend to dehydrate.

7. Rainy Time---Bring a camera, tape recorder, book, magazine, radio, DVD, CD player with you for rainy hours or days.

8. Document the Trip---as you go or when you get home… whether it’s a trip to the doctor , the zoo, or the beach photos & written logs are good memories to always have.

9. Time Passing---most people (all ages) love adventure to some degree so when your traveling let your travel companion follow along on the map, talk about the history & fun facts about your destination.

10. Expend energy---whether at a roadside stop, doctors office, or airport encourage and allow everyone to stretch and use pent-up energy…always find out where this can safely be done in a public place before permitting everyone to run in every direction disturbing others and making your job difficult when it’s time to regroup.

SO with a little planning & lots of fun in mind, we at New Beginnings Newsletter hope your 2006 end of summer vacation will be a memorable one. A “vacation” does not mean a trip to the beach…it can mean a trip to the library…a trip to Wal Mart or a trip to the city museum. Whatever YOUR vacation is, Have a Good One.