Nursing Escorts Take Away Cares on the Road

A way to help senior groups or individuals who may need special assistance or nursing support while traveling has been set up by Nancy Beecham, a registered nurse for 20 years. Beecham has had lots of experience dealing with the health problems of seniors, but it took a bad tour experience by her father for her to hit upon the idea of a nursing-escort service.

“My father had wanted this vacation for so long and was really looking forward to it, even though he was diabetic,” Beecham said.

“But he had so many problems, through time zones, temperature changes and getting insulin injections, that he had a miserable time. He told me he never wanted to travel again.

“That seemed such a shame . . . to want to travel in what should be your best years, but be deterred by health problems that could be overcome. I knew there must be a great number of others with similar feelings, so last fall I started Nursing Escort Services.”

Since then, she and others from her group of about 30 registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and certified nursing assistants, both male and female, have accompanied groups and individuals on cruises, coach tours and other trips.

On a typical tour, the nurse checks each participant’s medical record prior to the trip, noting such items as nursing needs, medicines or injections that might be required and special dietary needs.

The accompanying tour nurse makes sure each member gets the proper medication and diet, and takes care of that person gets general health care along the way. In addition, home support is possible by telephone, if necessary, through access to computerized medical records and contact with the traveler’s personal physicians.

“We’ve found it not only provides support and ease of traveling, but also provides peace of mind for children or relatives at home,” Beecham said.

Tour groups using the Nursing Escort Services can must be from 8 to 15 people. Larger groups usually require a second nurse. The company also provides nursing escorts for individuals or couples, with daily costs from $50 to $100, depending on service needed. Travel expenses are additional.

Nursing Escort Services is working with Senior Vacation Headquarters/Cruise Holidays and Cruise Concepts.

Cruise Holidays, for example, offers four cruises for seniors, with one or more nurses from Beecham’s staff included in the rates. These are:

A six-day Alaska cruise, leaving Aug. 15 on the Regent Sun from Anchorage, with per-person costs starting at $1,550; a weeklong Caribbean cruise, Aug. 29 on the Holiday from Miami, from $1,365; a 10-day Polynesia cruise, Sept. 17 on the Sea Princess from Papeete, from $2,490, and a nine-day Mexican Riviera cruise, Dec. 14 from Los Angeles, from $1,698.

Beecham also is working with Cruise Concept for four additional nurse-escorted cruises, each one week. Still in the developing stage are a cruise on the Mississippi Queen, a fall-foliage cruise of the New England coast, a cruise in Hawaii and a cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage.

For more information on individual or group nurse-escort services, call the Nursing Escort Service at (619) 463-9598.

For additional information on the above cruises, call Cruise Holidays at (619) 464-1000 or Cruise Concepts at (619) 463-9598.

La Quinta Inns has added a new “Senior Class” program for those age 60 and over.

Members will get a 20% discount at all La Quinta Inns by showing a membership card at check-in. There is no charge for a third or fourth person sharing the same room.

Senior Class membership is $10 annually. In addition to the 20% room discount, travelers get a certificate for $20 off the first night’s stay. Applications can be obtained at any La Quinta Inn or by calling toll-free (800) 531-5900.

La Quinta has a regular 15% room discount for members of AARP or others age 55 and over. You cannot get both discounts during the same stay.

Medieval Times in Buena Park will have a special senior matinee on Wednesday, May 9 for its four-course dinner and jousting tournament. Senior groups or persons 55 or over can get special rates by making advance reservations with Jim Lennartson at (714) 634-0213. Similar 1 p.m. senior matinees will be held July 18, Sept. 19 and Nov. 14.

Mature travelers who enjoy Big Band music and dancing might take in “Swingin’ in Style” Sunday, May 20 as the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downey hosts the 18-piece Senior Class Big Band from 2 to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $12.50 at the door. (Advance sale available until May 19).

There’s also a “Swing and Stay” overnight rate of $69 (single or double) for the two-room suites, which includes breakfast and complimentary evening beverages. The hotel is at 8425 Firestone Blvd., Downey. For tickets or more information, call (213) 861-1900.

Universal Studios has introduced a Senior Early Bird special for senior groups of 20 or more that arrive before 10 a.m. In addition to a rate of $11.50 per person, seniors get pre-boarded through a special gate. The special price is available all year, but groups must make reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Individuals age 60 and over can save $5.50 off the regular adult admission of $21 any time. Seniors also can get coupons good for complimentary parking (normally $4 for cars) and 10% off at the majority of Universal Studio gift shops with Universal’s Senior Star program.

For more information on the Senior Early Bird Group specials or to request individual Senior Star parking coupons and other senior specials, call (818) 777-3791.