For many older adults, retirement frees up time to travel, perhaps exploring places and sights long included on a bucket list. Or retirees plan visits with adult children who have relocated across the country. But for some seniors, travel is not that simple.
Those with medical problems, physical limitations, or dementia or other cognitive illnesses face some challenges if they want or need to hit the road. You may have your heart set on going to a family reunion hundreds of miles away or attending a grandchild’s wedding on the opposite coast. Driving may be out of the question, but flying presents its own problems. You’ll have to get through a security line with a carry-on bag or rush through the airport to transfer flights. You may have a wheelchair or oxygen to contend with.
If you or a loved one has health issues or concerns about not being up for the rigors of travel, hiring a medical or other travel companion service is one route to consider. These firms ensure that older parents or loved ones navigate the airport, are comfortable on a flight and arrive safely at their destination.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The services aren’t cheap, because you typically pay for a companion’s travel costs in addition to yours, along with other expenses. But the trade-off can be peace of mind or the opportunity to be at an important family or other event that you just don’t want to miss.
Some services also will assist in arranging for a caregiver to help out during the entire visit. “The family shouldn’t have to worry about getting grandma to the bathroom in the middle of the wedding,” says Cindy Schaefer, a registered nurse and owner of Travel Care and Logistics, a medical companion flying service.
In other cases, adult children are hiring travel companions to help a parent relocate from a distant home to an assisted-living community closer to them. Companion services can also help snowbirds move back home when the seasons change.
What a Service Can Do
Flying Companions provides door to door service for seniors traveling alone or those in need of an extra helping hand, says owner Doug Iannelli. A companion will drive an older adult to the airport, help get through security, sit beside him on a flight and drive him to his destination. Fees for domestic travel range from $3,000 to $5,000 and can increase, depending on the number of flight transfers and trip length.
Laura Swicker Barber, age 55, used Flying Companions to help bring her wife, who is in the early stages of dementia, from St. Augustine, Fla., to an assisted-living community in Westfield, N.J. Iannelli joined the two on the trip, calling ahead for a wheelchair and securing the last three adjacent seats on a flight. He took care of all the baggage and the rental car. Then he unloaded the bags at the assisted-living community and helped to check in. “There’s no way I could have done this alone and maintained her dignity,” Barber says.
Flying Companions does not provide medical care. If you or a loved one requires medical help, be sure to ask a service upfront if it’s available. Travel Care and Logistics, for example, is staffed by registered nurses who evaluate a traveler’s condition and consult with a physician before a trip. Staff can dispense medicine and handle medical emergencies. Travel Care and Logistics recently helped a woman in her seventies diagnosed with dementia to fly from Washington state to a favorite niece’s graduation at Emory University in Atlanta. The company also arranged for a caregiver to stay with her for the five-day event. Costs, which are based on trip lengths and physical and medical needs, start at about $2,500.
Other flying companion services include Travel Helpers and FirstLight Home Care.
Make flying easier for yourself by asking the airline for a gate pass that lets a loved one help an older traveler through security. Pack medicines in a carry-on bag, and choose plane seats near the bathroom.
-
Crypto Trends to Watch in 2026Cryptocurrency is still less than 20 years old, but it remains a fast-moving (and also maturing) market. Here are the crypto trends to watch for in 2026.
-
Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage Quiz: Which is Right for You?Quiz Take this quick quiz to discover your "Medicare Personality Type" and learn whether you are a Traditionalist, or a Bundler.
-
Ask the Editor: Capital Gains and Tax PlanningAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, Joy Taylor answers questions on capital gains tax rates and end-of-year tax planning
-
Why It's Worth Booking a Winter VacationTravel Smart In the early months of the year, travel demand dips — and so do prices.
-
5 Ways to Save on a Trip to the 2026 Olympics in ItalyA guide to going to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics without breaking the bank.
-
The Best (and Worst) Airlines for Flight Delays and CancellationsWhich airlines should you book and which should you avoid if you want to make it to your destination on time?
-
Four Luxury Spa Resorts for Well-Heeled TravelersWe hand-picked these U.S. luxury spa resorts for their serenity, amenities and dedication to the comfort of older travelers.
-
Child-Free Cruises Perfect For Your Retirement CelebrationHow to find a bespoke ocean or river vacation for adults. Many of these options are smaller, charming river cruises, expeditions, or niche experiences.
-
Noctourism: The New Travel Trend For Your Next Trip"Noctourism" is a new trend of building travel and vacations around events and plans that take place at night. Take a look at some inspiring noctourism ideas.
-
My Husband and I Retired at 67 With $3.2 Million, But He's Frugal About Travel. How Can I Convince Him to Loosen Up?We asked financial planning experts for advice.
-
Cruise Lines Sue to Block Hawaii’s New Climate Tourism TaxState Tax Your vacation to the Aloha State could come at a higher price tag next year. Here’s why.
