I've had a lot of questions recently about. elderly people © travelling. Many families are a bit worried when Auntie - Emma ‘an- _trayel- _ wise by Barbara ° ' McCreadie -mounces that she is going back to the “old country” for a-while and they tell me, in exasperation, “She's next- door to senile, has high blood pressure, and forgets where she’s going half the time”. If Auntie has relatives meeting her on the other side, your worries are half over. By delivering her: to one of our airlines, they will take special care. She can be “pre-boarded” meaning that airline personnel will escort her to her seat and look after her hand baggage (do the airlines a favor - keep this to a minimum). If Auntie needs a special meal such as_ salt-free, Kosher, low cholesterol or vegetarian, an order placed a few days ahead will guarantee that she reccives what she needs. Should she be a little tottery on her feet, the flight attendants will escort her to. Helping the elderly travel the washroom. This is especially. important with elderly people who have kidney problems. Should Auntie Emma be “uncle Charlie” instead, there are male flight -per- Sonnel to save his sen- Sitivities. - Some people are a bit bigger than the normal traveller. If Auntie’s stomach protudes to such an extent that you're —-worried about a seat belt holding her in, speak to the airline ahead _of time. They will be ready. with a “belt extender” that will cover the ground. If it were my Auntie, Td buy her a- going-away present of a handbag with lots of space’ for her documents ~(well-zippered) and her medicines (easily available). I'd- tuck her identity cards into her purse “> including Name, Address, Passport nuniber (including place and date of issue), my name and address and telephone plus -the name, address and phone number of the relatives who will meet her abroad. I'd pin