Boomer travel tips have to include ways you can help your senior travellers, and often ways to help younger people travel, too! Here are travel tips 1-5, and now I’ll give you tips 6-10. My boomer travel tips are gleaned from a recent flight from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles via Newark and Chicago.

6. Listen for gate announcements. When you get to your gate, make sure your flight is on the sign or marquee, and then pay attention. Check it as the flight gets closer. Two flights were changed to different gates, and I sat there, happily reading a book, until I overheard someone ask for the flight. Both times, there was no gate change announcement and only luck kept me from a mad dash across the concourse.

7. Plan for bad weather. Face it, our weather is broken. It seems that every season now has terrible weather patterns. In my travel last week, I spent the night at Newark airport when my flight from Los Angeles arrived five hours late and my flight to Portland was cancelled. Make sure you have your medications in a bag or purse that’s with you if you check your luggage. In most airports, the food courts close at 10 p.m. and reopen at 6 a.m. so tuck a granola bar or some nuts in your bag. Don’t go too far away into an empty terminal, but move away from the TV sets (which will go all night) and the foreign flight areas, which also take off in the wee hours. Try to get comfortable, stay warm, and relax. Stay hydrated. I felt very safe with the crowd of other stranded travelers. I can report that Newark has little brown mice in concourse C that come out around 2 a.m. So while boomer travel tips includes packing food, don’t leave crumbs around!

Boomer travel tips: worry more about comfort than fashion!

8. Invest in a neck pillow if you’re going on long flights. The little c-shaped pillows (some are inflatable) will make a long flight much more comfortable if you’re dozing off. Some have a strap across the neck so they can be strung on your luggage.

9. Make sure you have the contact numbers you need. You’ll be sad if your flight is two hours late, your son has already left for the airport, and you don’t know his cell number. For that matter, make sure your phone is charged before you leave for the airport, and that the charger is in your purse. Several of my flights had outlets under the seat, which worked great for a seat mate recharging her Kindle.

10. Leave yourself enough time. Especially if you’re travelling from an unfamiliar airport, leave yourself enough time. Try to have at least an hour between connections in case your flight is late, and get to the airport at least 1.5 hours before your flight. Just as the Portland Jetport has changed in the last few years, so have many of the terminals Portland flights fly in to.

Happy travels! Thanks for reading. Do you have any boomer travel tips to add? Send them to me at dmclean@maineseniorguide.com.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

These 10 travel tips will help you stay comfortable on your next trip. My dad always said, “lessons are presented until they are learned”…..and I learned some good lessons on my recent travel to Los Angeles. Now I present 10 travel tips to you, so you don’t have to learn them yourselves! Actually, you’ll find boomer travel tips 6-10 on the next Maine Senior Guide blog, but here are the first five:

Travel has changed a lot in the last few years.

1. Airports are huge. Make sure you know what gate you’re going to, and if it seems far away, check for a shuttle. I walked around two concourses in Newark Airport last week before I discovered a shuttle that runs between the terminals at the gate entrances.

2. Wear slip-on shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes during the security check. I was amazed at how many people traveled in lace-up shoes that required a bench and a rest-stop to redress. This is one of the most frequently overlooked travel tips! Do pack some comfortable walking shoes, however, which will make exploring places like Huntington Gardens in Pasadena easier. (Orchids from the Garden conservatory.)

3. Remember the 3-1-1 rule. No more than 3 oz. containers of liquid, in a one quart zip-lock bag, one to a person. Baby formula and some medications can be exempted, but check with your airline BEFORE you show up. (This is for items in your carry-on. Checked bags can have full-size liquid containers.)

Travel Tips Include Pack Some Food

4. Pack some food. I didn’t get so much as a package of nuts on my trip. (When I made the same trip out west nine months ago, at least I got pretzels.) This was one of the travel tips I learned the hard way! You can buy various food items (credit cards only) and non-alcoholic drinks are free, but the lady next to me had a sandwhich and a salad from home. If you have the room and the time, you can bring non-liquid food, have something good to eat, and save a bundle.

5. Think twice about your carry on. Since they started charging for luggage, everyone on every flight has a gigantic carry-on plus a huge handbag. If you’re one of the last groups into the plane, it’s possible the overhead bins will be full, and you’ll be hefting your carry-on overhead several times, trying to find a place where it will fit in. You might consider the $25 bag check fee money well spent. And secondarily, make sure your luggage, carry-on or otherwise, has wheels. Borrow a wheeled bag if you don’t travel often. Believe me, the airports have gotten larger, gates are further apart, and flights are closer together. When you’re rushing from point to point, you simply must have wheels. You can’t count on getting a luggage cart. I have the last carry-on bag in America without wheels, and it’s being retired because of my experiences on this trip.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

I’m celebrating the Weeks-McLean Law, passed 100 years ago today, commonly referred to as the Migratory Bird Act. Today, I’m also celebrating what would have been my dad’s 86th birthday. Malcolm Dennison McLean, this one’s for you.

The Migratory Bird Act, passed in 1913, makes it illegal to kill or transport migratory birds for their feathers or any other reason. Imperiled snowy egrets, whose feathers were used to decorate lady’s hats in the period after the Civil War, were the poster birds for the Weeks-McLean Law, but they weren’t alone. In 1886, there were 50 different species of birds in the US being slaughtered for their feathers for the hat trade.

What connection does my dad have with birds and the Migratory Bird Act? His wider connection, as a forester, was with the great outdoors. But on top of that, he was an eminently sensible man. He wouldn’t see the benefit in leaving nests full of baby egrets to starve, even if their mom’s feathers brought lots of money. He didn’t like waste or vanity. He enjoyed nature right where it was, outside.

My dad was a hunter, but only of what he could eat. And that changed. When we were kids, we enjoyed many a woodcock pie. (Woodcocks are elusive little game birds. Game birds are not covered by the Migratory Bird Act.) When dad noticed that the early spring didn’t bring as many whistling displays, he stopped hunting woodcock. He didn’t hunt harder, to get the last few birds. He changed.

Change came to the plume trade in the form of irate ladies of wealth. It took about 17 years for two Boston cousins, Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall, to lead the boycotts and protests of feathered hats. They were reformed fashion icons themselves, as members of Boston’s upper crust, and the club they formed to protect birds was called the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Audubon societys sprang up in many other states around the urgent need to protect birds from the plume trade.

It’s amazing to think that 100 years ago, people had the courage to stand up to London and New York businesses that were making fortunes in feathers, and insist that the traffic stop. They did that both by law and by fashion, by making the wearing of feathers a careless and vulgar expression of tasteless vanity. They didn’t wait until every single egret was slaughtered.

Happy birthday, Migratory Bird Act. Happy birthday, Weeks-McLean Law. The world is a much better place because people saw something they didn’t like, and took action. And happy birthday, Mac McLean. You brought an interest in nature and the outside to our family that is going strong in the third generation.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

AARP Maine is looking for a volunteer leader to serve as the new State President. The next state president will serve as a leader and spokesperson for the more than 230,000 AARP members who live in Maine.

“This is an exciting and influential role,” said Dr. Lori Parham, AARP Maine State Director. “We are looking for someone exceptional, a person of energy and commitment who is passionate about Maine and the well-being of the people who live in our state.”

AARP Maine’s State President works with the State Director to help make the vision, mission and priorities of AARP come true. They also serve as Chair of the AARP Maine Executive Council. The Council, working with the State Director and staff, provides guidance and gets the work done on state activities in the areas of economic security, health and long-term care, and livable/age-friendly communities.

“We are looking for an individual with strong leadership and interpersonal skills who has the ability to motivate and inspire others,” said Parham. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime volunteer opportunity to make a broad-based positive difference in the lives of people in Maine.”

Applicants must have previous volunteer experience either with AARP or with other organizations. This volunteer position requires a significant time commitment and benefits include reimbursement of all expenses including travel throughout Maine and the United States, as well as training and support from AARP’s state and national offices.

“AARP volunteer state presidents come to us from diverse professional backgrounds and have worked in such fields as education, legislative, private business, health care and the financial industry, to name a few,” said Parham. “We are excited to find the right person to help us forge dynamic social change for Mainers 50+ and their families.”

Applications will be accepted until February 28, 2013. All inquiries should be made directly to Dr. Lori Parham at 207-776-6304 or lparham@aarp.org. Further information about AARP Maine can be found at www.aarp.org/me.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

Traveling with seniors is Sonja Burns’s specialty. Sonja, a licensed practical nurse, is the owner of Air Companions. Air Companions makes traveling with seniors safer and more comfortable. Just in time for Christmas and New Year trips, she’s offering these safe travel tips.

1.) Make absolutely sure your loved one has a picture ID. I have discovered that older people who need care, and no longer drive, often do not have a picture ID. If you do not have one when you enter the airport you will not be able to fly, and your traveling with seniors adventure ends before it begins.

2.) If a person is wheelchair bound and cannot walk through the metal detectors at the airport, they  will be patted down. So, if you are traveling with seniors who cannot walk. please give them a heads up about going through security!

3.) Airports offer escort services in the airport, which I’ve found to be very helpful and courteous. They can help you get checked in, take you to your gate, and assist a wheelchair bound person on and off the plane. Remember to tip them!

Travleing with Seniors: bring meds and wet wipes

4.) I always carry a small package of wet wipes in my purse. When you are traveling with seniors who need assistance with their care, wet wipes are invaluable for numerous reasons!

5.) When traveling with seniors, always bring along extra supplies for your loved one. If they are incontinent bring extra incontinent pads/underwear. If they have an ostomy bring extra ostomy supplies. Bring a two-day supply of their medications in your carry on, in case your are delayed. Make sure all medications are labeled and in their original containers or presciption bottles, if possible. Remember the rule about liquids!

6.) Make sure your loved one dresses comfortably. I would suggest a fleece outfit as it is warm and roomy. If you have room, a light fleece laprobe can be a pillow or shawl, and will be invaluable if you’re delayed somewhere.

7.) When purchasing a ticket the best solution is to go first class. But, not everyone can afford that. If you are traveling with seniors in coach, ask for seats by the bulkhead. There is more leg room by the bulkhead. Tell the agent you are flying with someone disabled. The ticket agents really do try to help you out.

8.) If your loved one hasn’t flown in a long time it might be a good idea to tell their doctor about the upcoming flight. If you think the flight might be stressful ask the M.D. about a mild sedative to help them get through the trip.

9.) Make sure your luggage has wheels! When you are pushing a wheelchair it is very difficult to carry bags on your shoulders. A small carry on bag on wheels is a very good investment when traveling with seniors.

10.) If all this sounds like too much work contact Air Companions! We would be delighted to accompany your loved one in air travel. Or, any kind of travel for that matter. Let us help make your holidays easier. Sonja Burns, Air Companions

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

Seeing a yellow dot in Maine? Yellow Dot is a nationwide emergency responder alert system that made its way to Maine this year, starting in Cumberland County.  It’s designed to help car accident victims communicate with emergency personnel, even when they’re unconscious. The first hour after a person is injured is the Golden Hour, when  care decisions have a lot of impact and have to be made quickly. When emergency responders have medical information at hand, it saves time and lives.

The Yellow Dot in Maine program is simple. People get a paper card at a registration site. (or print out the card) fill it in, put a recent photo on it, and put it in the glove compartment. They put the Yellow Dot on their driver’s side passenger window, and first responders know to look in the glove compartment for important medical details about the car’s occupants. Everyone who regularly drives or rides in that vehicle should have their own Yellow Dot card.

Ted Hatch, an officer with the Gorham Police Department, is working with other departments to introduce the program to Cumberland County and the rest of Maine. He was quoted about the program In a recent Scarborough Leader article. “It is not just for seniors, although seniors are targeted with this,” said Hatch, a resident of Scarborough. “It is estimated by 2030, 70 million 65 and over drivers will be out on the roads.”

While the Yellow Dot in Maine folder will contain important information needed in times of emergencies, Hatch is not worried about the information getting in the wrong hands.  It is no different than carrying the information in a purse or wallet. “There is not any sensitive information. There is no database and the information is not logged anywhere,” Hatch said. “This is just information we need at the scene of an emergency.”

The Yellow Dot in Maine program alerts emergency providers with name, address, medical conditions, allergies, prescriptions, and emergency contact information. Recent pictures help provide identification if the accident victim is somehow unable to respond. The program is free. There are ongoing enrollment sites for Yellow Dot in Maine around Cumberland County.

Enrollment begins October 13, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., in these locations:

Gorham Public Safety Building – 270 Main Street, Gorham/Contact Officer Ted Hatch with Gorham Police at 222-1681

Westbrook Public Safety Building – 570 Main Street, Westbrook/Contact Captain Tom Roth with Westbrook Police at 854-2531

Scarborough Public Safety Building – 246 US Rt. 1, Scarborough/Contact Officer Tim Barker – 207-883-6361

Southern Maine EMS – 474 Riverside Industrial Parkway, Portland/Contact: Director Marc Minkler – 207-741-2790

Portland Fire and Police – Hadlock Field, SeaDog Stadium, Portland/Police – Lieutenant Janine Roberts, Fire Dept – Capt John Brady

Standish Public Safety – 175 Northeast Road, Route 35, Standish/Contact: Chief Brent Libby

Yarmouth Fire Department – 178 North Road, Yarmouth/Contact: Chief Michael Robitaille – 207-846-2410

Gray Fire Department – 125 Shaker Road, Gray/Contact: Chief Galen Morrison – 207-657-3931

South Portland Public Safety Building – 30 Anthorne Street, South Portland/Contact: Chief Guimond – 207-799-3314 or Contact: Officer Robert Libby – 207-799-5511 ext 7422 – robeli@southportland.org

Falmouth Police Station – 2 Marshall Drive, Falmouth/Contact: Sgt. George Savidge – 207-781-2300, Ext 5231

Norman-David Suzuki – Roosevelt Trail, Windham/Rt 302 next to Bucks Naked BBQ

Scarborough WalMart – 500 Gallery Drive, Scarborough/Contact: Mgr. Jeff Vaillancourt – 207-885-5567

Windham WalMart – 30 Landing Road, Windham/Contact: Mgr. Sherma Moody – 207-893-0603

Brunswick WalMart – 15 Tibbetts Drive, Brunswick/Contact: Mgr. Tag Martin – 207-725-0773

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

West Nile Virus has found its way to Maine after a hot and humid summer. Elders and infants are most susceptible to serious illness, though most people who get West Nile recover from it. How does it spread, and what can you do to protect yourself from this mosquito-borne illness?

West Nile Virus is not spread by person-to-person contact. It’s actually spread most effectively by birds. Mosquitoes carry West Nile. When they bite an infected bird, it contracts the disease and flies someplace new, and gets bitten by another mosquito, who then can carry the virus to other birds (or humans). While some mosquitoes only travel a few hundred feet, most of the species that bite us can travel 1-3 miles from their breeding pool. Birds can obviously travel all around the state, and spread the disease along their flight paths. West Niles Virus has been in New England all summer and was recently found in mosquito breeding test pools in York and Cumberland counties.

How can you avoid West Nile Virus? keep from being bitten!

• Avoid being outside during the big mosquito meal times of dawn and dusk.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts in light colors.
• Don’t wear perfume.
• Use insect repellent (Deet) in 10% to 30% concentrations, depending on how long you’ll be outside. Oil of lemon-eucalyptus is nearly as effective as Deet.
• Use yellow lights (not incandescent, which attract insects) on your deck.
• Set up a fan on your deck to take advantage of the mosquito’s weak wing power. Blow them away.
• Mosquitoes are fairly weak flyers, and fly about 1-1.5 mph, so keeping a brisk pace during your walk should help.

Prevent Breeding

You can’t keep birds away, but you can control mosquito breeding. Clean up any water-containing items around your property, empty standing water in old plant pots, and turn over the kid’s wading pool. Empty and refill bird baths every few days. Put holes in the bottom on recycling bins, so that they’ll drain. Cover your rain barrel so mosquitoes can’t get into lay eggs. Make sure there are no pools of water in the boat cover, on the tarp over the woodpile or the covers of lawn furniture or the barbeque.

Disease Symptoms

Although no vaccine exists for West Nile Virus, the symptoms can be treated. There have been more than 25 deaths out west (mostly in Texas) but so far, we haven’t had anyone in Maine with a verified case of West Nile.

Symptoms include fever, headache, rash and conjunctivitis, but can be more severe to include high fevers, headache, still necks and disorientation and weakness.

West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses are worrisome, and you should take sensible precautions. But don’t let the worry keep you from enjoying the outdoors! In fact, tick-borne illnesses is much more prevalent in Maine, and insect repellents like Deet will keep ticks away, too.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

Kiplinger’s has named Portland, Maine the best place to live for those of us in our “Second Act”. Portland beat out Sante Fe, Austin, Springfiled, IL, and Barnstable, MA for the honor.

Kiplinger ranked the cities based on living costs, strong employment  growth and a population that scores high on measures of education and  tech-savviness. For “Second Acts”, they also factored in the number of golf courses  as well as the number of artists and musicians. One of the other scores: number of restaurants per 100 population.

You can read the article and judge for yourself. It also lists best cities for young people  and families. Is Portland your best place to live?

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

Need stroke help? If you’re living or vacationing in the mid coast area of Maine, getting help after a stroke has gotten easier. Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick is now an Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.

The Joint Commission, working with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, has recognized Mid Coast with the special certification. The certification means that the hospital provides the best stroke help and care a community hospital can offer its patients. MidCoast is one of only four hospitals in Maine that has this status.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the number one cause of long term disability in the United States. Survival and successful recovery from a stroke improves if symptoms are recognized quickly and immediate medical attention is given. The sooner a stroke patient receives treatment, the more likely they will avoid long-term damage.

According to the American Stroke Association, preventable risk factors for stroke include being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure.  Smoking and having other health conditions like diabetes, carotid artery disease, or high cholesterol are also risk factors. To reduce your risk, stop smoking, improve your diet, increase physically activity and visit your doctor regularly. For resources to help, visit http://www.midcoasthealth.com/healthline.

Mid Coast Hospital went through a thorough on-site evaluation, including eight standard performance measures and an in-depth review of staff. They earned the advanced primary stroke center certification in July.

Among the hospital’s new services for stroke patients is the “telestroke” system that serves to augment the availability of a staff neurologist, providing immediate off-site evaluation when needed. This program is offered through a joint partnership with Maine Medical Center, another of Maine’s Primary Stroke Centers.

The Mid Coast team includes four on-staff neurologists that treat a full range of neurological conditions. Dr. John Taylor heads the stroke program which is now capable of delivering the most advanced level of care for stroke help.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean

Lyme disease is the most common insect-carried disease in Maine. Ticks are already out and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase as the weather continues to get warmer, said Dr. Sheila Pinette, Maine Center for Disease Control Director and Dr. Stephen Sears, State Epidemiologist. They say that Anaplasma, Babesia and other tick borne diseases are also increasing in Maine, though Lyme disease is the most frequent tick borne illness.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is carried by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. Cases of lyme disease increased over the last five years in Maine, and occured in all 16 counties. Lyme disease is most common among adults aged 45 – 64, but school age children 5 – 14 also have high numbers of cases. Most infections occur during the summer months. As the weather continues to get warmer, more ticks will be out in the open, and we are likely to see more cases of Lyme disease. Over 1,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported statewide in 2011, which is a record high for Maine. Over 100 cases have already been reported so far in 2012, and that number will continue to rise as we enter the summer months.

You get Lyme Disease when you’re bitten by an infected tick. Ticks like tall grass but can be found in any area. Tuck pant cuffs into b0ot or socks, and closely inspect your clothing and body for ticks after every stroll around your garden, at the playgrounds or playing fields, or after every walk in the woods. Inspect pets as well. Ticks have to bite you for 24 hours before they pass the disease, so showering and scrubbing with a wash cloth after spending time in the garden is a good idea before bed. Most tick bites will not result in Lyme disease, but read on for symptoms.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of the tick bite within 3-30 days after being bitten. Fever, joint and muscle pains may also occur. Lyme disease is treatable, and the majority of patients recover after receiving the right therapy.

Lyme Disease Treatment: What to do after a tick bite

• Remove the tick properly, ideally using tweezers or a tick spoon.
• Identify the tick and the engorgement level, or how long it was attached to you. Tick identification is available through the Maine Medical Center Research Institute and more information can be found there.
• Clean the area around the bite, and watch for signs and symptoms for a whole month.
• Testing of the tick is not usually recommended because even if the tick tests positive for Lyme, that does not mean it was attached long enough to transmit disease, and even if the tick tests negative that does not mean that was your only exposure, and that does not eliminate the possibility of Anaplasmosis or Babesiosis.

Tick Bite Treatment

Treatment after a tick bite is not routinely recommended, but can be considered under specific circumstances including:

• Tick has been identified as an engorged deer tick that has been attached for over 24 hours
• Exposure occurred in an area where there is a high rate of infected ticks. Areas south of Bangor have the highest rate of infected ticks in the state. There is limited data from the more northern counties on the rate of infection among ticks.
• Preventive treatment can be started with 72 hours. Even if preventive treatment is used, watching for symptoms for 30 days is recommended.

Other tick borne diseases

Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. Symptoms of Anaplasma include: fever, headache, tiredness and body aches. Symptoms of Babesia include: extreme fatigue, aches, fever, chills, sweating, dark urine, and possibly anemia.

In 2011, doctorss reported 26 cases of Anaplasmosis. Doctors have already reported seven cases in 2012. In 2011, doctors reported 9 cases of Babesiosis. No cases have been reported so far in 2012. Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are all reportable in Maine.

For more information on tick borne diseases including Lyme visit this section at the Maine state website.

Maine Senior Guide | Deborah McLean