A snapshot of older travelers, and travel tips

Published in RINewsToday on March 10, 2025

Larry Tetreault, 78, and wife Diane, 72, don’t spend their days sitting in rocking chairs on their porch in Narragansett.  For over 20 years, the former educators have traveled quite a bit, mostly taking international trips,” says Larry. These trips, usually to warmer climates (Bahamas, Bermuda, and Aruba), “put a spring in our steps,” he notes.

“Oftentimes we travel to upper New York state to visit old friends,” he says, noting that sometimes their son, his wife, and the grandkids,come along, too.

After a lifetime of work, the Narragansett residents (formerly from Pawtucket) admit that they enjoy their traveling. “It helps us to relax, and it makes life a whole lot more enjoyable,” says Larry, a former Pawtucket City Councilor. “We’re making the most of the time we have left by doing things that we enjoy, like travelling” he adds.

Next week, the Tetreaults are planning to travel to Aruba for a two-week stay. “It’s a beautiful place to visit, well-managed, clean,  literally little crime, and great weather,” notes Larry.  

Like the Tetreaults, older Americans are beginning to make their travel plans this year.  Last week, AARP released 2025 Travel Trends research revealing a significant rise in the percentage of adults aged 50 and older who plan to travel, from 2024 (65%) to 2025 (70%), reflecting an upward trend beyond pre-pandemic levels. 

The study also highlights a growing preference for domestic air travel in 2025 – up from 38% in 2024 to 46% this year, surpassing traveling by personal vehicle, now at 43%, down from 49% in 2024. Contributing factors for this decrease appears to be the declining COVID concerns and reduced inflationary stress, says the report.   

Travel is Back in Full Swing for Older Adults 

The 44-page report, 2025 Travel Trends: A Survey of U.S. Adults Age 50-Plus,  examines the travel behaviors, expectations, and planning among adults – this year with a sample size of 2,970 respondents.  

“We are delighted to see that travel is back in full swing for older adults,” said Patty David, Vice President of Consumer Insights for AARP in a March 6 statement announcing the study’s release. “Spending time with family and friends is a primary motivator for adults 50 and older to travel. And it’s no surprise what benefits travel provides to older adults: Almost all respondents indicated that travel is good for their mental (95%) and physical (85%) health,” she says.

According to the AARP study’s findings, more than half (56%) of respondents said spending time with family or friends was a top motivator for travel. Like the Tetreaults, many also see travel as an opportunity to escape daily routines or focus on rest and relaxation and to rejuvenate. 

Last year, the study found that adults 50 and older took more trips than anticipated for the first time – the highest in four years. While older adults anticipated taking 3.6 trips on average, they actually took 3.9 trips on average. Adults 50-plus remain conservative in their anticipated number of trips in 2025 – about 3.6 on average, note the findings.

Though planned trips are on the rise, cost remains the main barrier to travel in 2025. Total anticipated spending, however, remains steady year over year at approximately $6,800, on average, the findings say.

AARP’s Travel Trends survey also found that in 2025 the top domestic destinations are Florida (15%), California (11%), Las Vegas (6%), New York (6%), Texas (6%) and Arizona (4%).  Where’s Rhode Island?????

Meanwhile, AARP’s Travel study findings indicate that while the older respondents anticipated taking family trips, summer trips and weekend getaways domestically, the top motivators for taking an international trip was tied to being on a person’s bucket list (22%) and family or multi-generational trips (11%).  

The researchers found that anticipation of international trips has increased from 37% in 2024 to 45% in 2025, though this still remains below pre-pandemic levels of 52%.

As to getting help for planning their trips about 40% of adult travelers expressed interested in taking an organized group trip, with a guided travel tour, of greatest interest (25%). While most older travelers are not currently aware of curated trips (60%), once learning about this, 55% express interest in having a personalized itinerary for them.

Like many of the older respondents, Tetreault’s wife does the planning for their trips “She finds information online by just cruising the internet,” he admitted that “booking a trip can be a breeze,” too.  

As to planning your trip, AARP’s survey of U.S. Adults Age 50-Plus, found that getting assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI) planning is slow to take hold.  Although ninety-eight percent are aware of AI, only 1 in 10 (8%) say that they use it for planning purposes.  However, the researchers noted that for those who did use AI, about 94% say that using it was helpful in planning their trip. 

Tips for Older International Travelers

“Travel Smart. Travel Safe. Travel Well,” reads a handout for older travelers posted on the U.S Department of State’s (DOS) website, www.travel.state.gov.  DOS, a federal agency that manages the United States’s foreign affairs, provides the following information for older travelers to review while making your international travel plans.  

DOS recommends that older travelers learn as much about their vacation designation(s)  as they can before their departures.  Do you need to get a visa, or vaccinations? Can you take your meds into the country? Both are important questions to answer.

At least three months before your trip, DOS suggests that you check your passport’s expiration date and entry requirement for your foreign designations on your trip itinerary.  Always review cancellation policies, too. It just might be prudent to consider purchasing travel and luggage insurance, says the handout, noting that many credit card, travel or tourism companies offer this protection for an additional fee. 

Before you leave, always leave a copy of your passport and travel itinerary with a family member or friend.

According to DOS, it is prudent for older travelers to know that Medicare doesn’t cover healthcare oversees. So, do your research and identify companies that offer short-term health and emergency assistance policies to cover overseas health expenses that include emergency medical and dental services, including medical evacuations.

DOS’s travel.state.gov/destination page provides details as to any health checks or vaccinations for the country you are visiting.  Schedule an appointment with your physician six to eight weeks before your trip to get your required vaccinations.  Also, identify any environmental conditions that may exacerbate your health (attitude, pollution, humidity, etc.).

Before leaving, make sure you pack ample supply of your prescription medications, suggests DOS’s handout.  Always discuss any time zone differences with your physician to make adjustments to your medication schedule both on the way out and your return home.  Always keep your medication in their original, labeled containers.  In case of a refill in a foreign country, always know the generic name of your medications.  The embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting can tell you if your prescribed medications are not considered illegal substances under the local laws.

DOS also recommends that if you have mobility issues or use a wheelchair, make sure you determine what the hotel’s access and accommodations are for swimming pools, public facilities, restaurants, bars, bathrooms, etc.

Most important, don’t forget to learn about the currency rate of the country you are visiting. Inform your bank or credit card company that you are traveling overseas so they do not freeze your account.  Ask them if they have international banking partners where you can safely deposit or make withdraws as needed. Bring travelers check or one or two major credit cards if ATM services are not available.

Staying Connected with Family and Friends

DOS suggests that you care emergency contact information during your overseas trip. Consider completing the emergency contact section in your passport.  Give your family and friends the contact information for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting. Investigate to see if your cellular plans offer international calling or texting packages that you can purchase to use in case of an emergency. 

Finally, DOS notes that one way to maintain emergency contact information is to enroll with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  By enrolling, your information will be securely stored, and this enables the DOS, U.S. embassies, or consulates to contact you, your family or friends, in an emergency.

Travel, a valuable resource for Americans 50-plus, who spend over $236 billion annually in leisure travel, provides expert travel advice, the latest news and travel insights.  AARP.org/travel has a wealth of articles available to anyone on vacation ideas, travel tips, and destinations to make travel simple. 

To view the full 2025 survey results, visit https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/topics/social-leisure/travel/2025-travel-trends.doi.10.26419-2fres.00882.001.pdf.

To review DOS’s Special Consideration for Older Travelers, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/info-older-travelers.html.

To view the National Council on Aging’s Safety Travel Tips for Older Adults, go to https://www.ncoa.org/article/safe-travel-tips-for-older-adults/.

Surviving, even thriving, when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s

Published in RINewsToday on March 3, 2025

Last Wednesday, Colleen Kelly Mellor, author and former feature writer for the Providence Journal, captivated a crowd at the Coventry Library with a talk about her caregiving journey. In her inspiring presentation, Mellor shared how she not only survived but thrived while caring for her husband, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mellor, 79, has had a multifaceted career—raising two daughters, teaching school for over 30 years, and working as a realtor for nine years. The prolific writer is no stranger to seeing the devastating impacts of Alzheimer’s. Her father, two brothers and two cousins died of the cognitive disease.  And for the past 15 years, she has been her husband’s primary caregiver. For 13 of those years, she single-handedly managed his care, from ensuring he attended doctor’s appointments to overseeing his medications.  

This journey led her to write her latest book, Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s.

The 284-page book, published last May, is a must-read for America’s caregivers. “The caregiving journey was so demanding, I felt compelled to write a book about what I learned—something that could help others,” Mellor explained. “I want to make sure they don’t repeat the mistakes I made, especially when I was uninformed, like not knowing about veteran benefits.”

What is the core message of Az and Me? Mellor stresses the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves. “Caregivers need to prioritize their own well-being, just like the airlines say: put the mask on yourself first, then on your child,” she says, adding that her book provides caregivers with the tools they need to do just that.

The Caregiver Journey Begins

“You can step out of the wreckage of your life’s journey,” Mellor encourages. “Keep stepping forward—even when you don’t want to and can’t see any change for the better. It will come if you persist.”

Mellor knows firsthand what that perseverance looks like. She admits that when her partner, Paul Wesley Gates, was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she was unsure of what it truly meant to be a caregiver. But her message to caregivers, shared during last week’s library talk, was clear: find your footing and keep moving forward.

Mellor acknowledges that she paid the price for being uninformed. “I was one of those caregivers,” she says. Seven years ago, Mellor suffered a herniated disc and became disabled. At that time, she had no support system in place to help care for her husband, a 20-year career military veteran with Alzheimer’s. As she received medical treatment, she had to bring Paul to her appointments and medical tests because she had no support. “I prayed he’d still be sitting in the waiting room when I came out,” she recalled. During this period, Mellor had to place her husband in a care facility for a brief time. The cost? $8,000. Despite initially planning to keep him there for a month, Mellor pulled him out after just four days. The services promised to her were never delivered.

Through this experience, Mellor learned a valuable lesson: the importance of understanding available benefits. “I was paying full price for day care when I could have used my husband’s veteran benefits, which would’ve covered three of the four days,” she said. “No one—no doctor, social worker, or even facility—told me about the benefits he was entitled to,” Mellor added. “He could have stayed at a Vet-approved facility for free because of his military service, and I could have received respite care.”

For the past two years, Mellor has been visiting Paul, now 83, at the Veterans Home in Bristol. She and Paul married at her daughter’s home in East Greenwich last December so that, according to federal rules, she could be buried with her husband in Rhode Island’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  

A Guide for America’s Caregivers

Mellor is an advocate at heart, which is reflected in all of her self-published books. “I’m an advocate for people,” she says. In her children’s books, Grandpa and the Truck (Books 1 & 2), Mellor highlights the important role of truckers in our daily lives. In Boomerrrang, her real estate background shines through as she cautions people about buying and selling property. And in Az and Me, she champions the cause of caregivers and veterans.

Her Alzheimer’s book is easy to read, with super short chapters (just 1-2 pages). It’s meant to reach out to caregivers and share her journey, as well as provide practical tips to avoid the mistakes she made. Through her book and group presentations in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, Mellor helps caregivers avoid pitfalls while navigating the demanding role of care provider.

Mellor shares snapshots of her and her husband’s life, highlighting the challenges they faced and offering practical strategies she used to cope with the stresses of caregiving. In her book, she explains how to determine eligibility for Veterans’ benefits and what those benefits cover. She also advises hiring a certified elder law attorney if needed, someone who understands the complexities of Medicaid eligibility, nursing home admissions, Medicare, Social Security, guardianship, and estate planning.

In her book, Mellor offers several practical tips for managing the challenges of caregiving. For example, when caring for someone with short-term memory loss, she suggests dressing your loved one in bright, easily visible colors. This makes it easier to spot them if they wander. She also recommends giving them a fake handbag or billfold, rather than the real deal, so you can easily access important medical documents. Mellor also shares tips on how to handle tough decisions, like when it’s time to take away the keys to the car. It’s one of the hardest decisions, she admits, but it’s necessary when it’s no longer safe for them to drive.

She advises caregivers to join an Alzheimer’s support group, choose a doctor they feel comfortable with, and divide caregiving responsibilities among family members. “A son can take Dad to his regular haircut appointment, then they can go out for lunch,” Mellor suggests.

Finally, she encourages caregivers to find moments of humor throughout the experience. “Laughter can be a lifesaver,” she says.Mellor likens her book to a box of chocolates: some pieces are sweet, others not so much—but all are essential. “There’s humor in it because my mission is to help caregivers cope and even thrive, not just survive,” she says.

In the end, Mellor sees Az and Me as a love story—one that shows how she and her husband found joy, even in the face of his debilitating disease.

To purchase Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s ($20) or for more details about scheduling a speaking engagement, go to colleenkellymellor.com or call 401-480-3403.  

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It’s now time for Congress to give tax credits to America’s caregivers

Published in RINewsToday on February 24, 2025

Just a few days after the 119th Congress was sworn in on Friday, January 3rd, AARP, along with 94 organizations, sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to enact legislation to provide financial relief for America’s caregivers. This could be accomplished by including the bipartisan bicameral Credit for Caring Act of 2024 (S. 3702/H.R. 7165 introduced in the 118th Congress) in any tax legislation that is advanced during the new Congress, says the joint letter.    

S. 3702/H.R. 7165, introduced during the last session of Congress by Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Colorado) and House lawmakers Mike Carey (D-Ohio), would allow an eligible caregiver a tax credit of up to $5,000 for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000 in a taxable year. The bills defined eligible caregiver as an individual who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500 and pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs. 

The joint letter, dated Jan. 7, 2025, stressed that family caregivers make it possible for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans, to live independently in their community and age in place at home.  It also cited an AARP study that found caregivers provided $600 billion annually in unpaid labor in 2021 to care for their loved ones. (This figure is based on about 38 million caregivers providing an average of 18 hours of care per week for a total of 36 billion hours of care, at an average value of $16.59 per hour). 

Caregivers take a hefty financial hit, too, having to cover out-of-pocket expenses associated with caregiving and losing income by cutting back on work hours or leaving the workforce entirely. When this occurs these individuals would see reduced Social Security and retirement savings by receiving reduced Social Security and other retirement benefits, noted the organizations in the correspondence. 

The joint letter also mentioned an AARP study that reported family caregivers spend on average, 26 percent of their income on caregiving expenses or over $7,200 annually. The uncompensated care saves taxes payers billions of dollars by delaying or even preventing admission to costly nursing home care and unnecessary hospital stays.  

The joint letter suggested that any tax legislation consider include a new, non-refundable tax credit of up to $ 5,000 for eligible working family caregivers would reduce the significant financial impact of caregiving.  Eligible caregivers caring for loved ones of all ages could receive the credit if the care recipient meets certain functional or cognitive limitations or other requires.  This tax credit would help working family caregivers regardless of whether they live with their loved one or if their loved one is a dependent. 

Overwhelmingly support for tax relief for caregivers 

A newly released AARP poll findings indicate that voters in competitive congressional districts want Congress to give financial relief to America’s family caregivers. The poll, conducted in late Jan. 2025, highlights a “clear, bipartisan mandate” say prominent pollsters from Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research. 

The bipartisan polling team conducted this survey of 3,000 registered voters nationally and 1,000 voters in the 28 most competitive House districts between January 27 and February 1, 2025. According to AARP, the districts chosen were the 15 Republican-held districts won by <5% of the vote in 2024, and the 13 Democratic-held districts that were also won by President Trump in 2024. The margin of sampling error for the national survey is ±1.8% and ±3.1% for the congressional districts survey.

The AARP poll findings reveal overwhelming voter support (84%) for Congress and the Trump Administration to act this Congress on a caregiver tax credit. Among various tax proposals currently being considered by Congress — including eliminating income taxes on Social Security, tips, and overtime pay—voters ranked passing a caregiver tax credit as their top priority. 

“America’s family caregivers put family first, helping their parents, spouses and others stay at home. They spend thousands of dollars every year on this care, while juggling work and family responsibilities,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer in a statement released on Feb. 11, 2025 announcing the results of AARP’s poll. “Without them, millions of older Americans would be forced into costly nursing homes—many at taxpayer expense. As Congress debates tax policy, the message from voters is clear: lawmakers must prioritize financial relief for hardworking Americans who are caring for their aging family members. AARP urges Congress to put money back into the pockets of hardworking family caregivers by passing a tax credit,” she says.  

Bipartisan

The poll findings indicate that support for the caregiving tax credit spans party lines, with strong majorities of Republicans (84%), Independents (82%), and Democrats (87%) in favor.  And support for a caregiver tax credit (84%) outpaces support for continuing the 2017 tax cuts (51%).  

Seventy-six-percent of voters agree that “Before Congress extends any tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, it should support working Americans with a tax credit to help cover the expenses of taking care of a loved one.”  

Family caregiving crosses party lines, with nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) serving as family caregivers at some point in their lives—many of whom struggle financially. 

Most voters (63%) say they are worried about their personal financial situation.  Family caregivers nationwide, many of whom face financial struggles, spend an average of $7,200 in out-of-pocket expenses each year—making it harder to afford essentials like groceries and bills.

“Voters over the age of 50 are a critical voting bloc that all candidates should compete for every election cycle,” adds Tony Fabrizio, partner at Fabrizio Ward. “Our poll found that Americans of all political stripes want leaders to support family caregivers. Candidates looking ahead to the 2026 midterms should pay attention to this issue if they want to win,” he said.

Could tax credits for caregivers become a reality?

Maybe.  During the 118th Congress, Republican and Democratic lawmakers came together to cosponsor legislation that called for federal tax credits for caregivers. S. 3702, with 11 Democrats, 3 Republicans and 3 Independents, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.  Its companion measure in the lower chamber, H. R. 7165, with 81 cosponsors (72 Democrats and 9 Republicans), was referred to House Ways and Means Committee.  Both bipartisan bills never made it to mark up or even to the House floor for vote. 

Tax Notes reporter Alexander Rifaat, who covers the White House and Treasury, reported in a web article posted on Oct. 29, 2024 that Presidential Republican candidate Donald Trump supported tax relief for caregivers. Rifaat noted that during his 2024 presidential election, at a campaign event held at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, Trump called for a national tax credit for caregivers who are “never spoken of” and stay at home. 

At the campaign event,  Rifaat noted that Trump told the crowd:  “I will support a tax credit for family caregivers who take care of a parent or a loved one. And it’s about time they were recognized, right?” 

Now, as President Trump has an opportunity to keep this campaign promise by calling on the Republican-controlled Congress to work with Democratic lawmakers to give America’s caregivers financial relief, through the passage of a national tax credit legislation that will benefit them.  It’s time to work together and put caregivers before partisan politics.

For a copy of the National Legislative Priorities Survey, Feb. 2025, go to www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/topics/voter-opinion-research/politics/federal-tax-package-legislative-priorities.doi.10.26419-2fres.00921.001.pdf.

For a listing of organizations urging Congress in Jan. 7, 2025 correspondence to provide financial tax relief to caregivers, go to www.nase.org/sf-docs/default-source/advocacy-documents/financial-relief-for-family-caregivers-credit-for-caring-act-sign-on-letter-january-2025-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=e6b0e0f0_1

www.bls.gov/blog/2023/celebrating-national-family-caregivers-month-with-bls-data.html

To read AARP’s Research Insights into Caregiving, go to www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/aarp-research-insights-caregiving/.