How To Travel If You Need Nursing Care

If you need a nurse in order to travel, there are several options:

• You can obtain a nurse at each place to which you are going to travel.
  • To find a local nurse, you can place ads online, in local papers or contact a local nursing service. People who provide elder assistance can also help locate a local nurse.
  • You can locate a nursing assistant agency in the United States free online through the U.S. Administration on  Aging:  www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp . Search for a service by zip code, city or county. Then choose "General Information & Assistance."
• You can hire a medical transport service to help you through airports and customs.
  • Medical transport services can help you get to the airport and onto the plane. There are also medical transport planes available.
  • You can locate services through the Association of Air Medical Services at www.aams.org .
  • Member directories are located at: http://www.aams.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutAAMS/OnlineMemberDirectories/default.htm
• You can hire a nurse to travel with you.
  • If you need a nurse to administer medicines, monitor care, and/or generally help you get around, you can hire one on your own or through a service.
  • Costs can range up to $1,000 a day plus travel expenses (including travel fares, lodging and food.)
  • Since you will be traveling with this person, it is preferable to meet him or her before leaving. You will not only be moving around together, you'll likely be eating together.
  • The Wall Street Journal listed the following services that help travelers find nurses that will travel with you. 
    • Accessible Journeys: www.disabilitytravel.com
    • Executive Care Service: www.execcareservices.com
    • The Nurse: www.tripnurse.com
    • Partners In Care, a division of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York: www.partnersincareny.org
• You can join an organized tour for frail or disabled travelers with nursing care available.
  • There are tour companies that organize tours for frail or disabled travelers. To find such companies, ask your travel agent, or use your favorite search engine. For example, type in the words "organized tours for frail or disabled travelers"

It is not likely that any of these options are covered by insurance.

NOTE: 

• Before hiring a nurse, check the nurse's background and experience to be sure he or she fits your needs. If you hire a nurse through an agency, confirm that the agency does a criminal and other background check.
• If you are going to travel outside the United States, check with the consulate or embassy of each country to find out what a nurse who travels with you can legally do in that country

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