I’ve never been to India but I’ve heard it can be intense. My H’s sister has a husband who wants to go to India with his wife and two children and bring along H’s parents. They have traveled all together at other times, but usually domestically, with one trip to Ireland.
H’s parents have never been to India and his Dad just turned 80 and has mobility issues with his knees. His Mom is a few years younger, but had to have much of her lower colon removed about two years ago and also has arthritis. They like to travel, but usually go to Italy or France.
So are there any particular challenges with traveling to India that would pose a health risk? I’m a bit afraid the idea of this trip will excite my FIL but it will bring out his stubbornness and he will want to go even though it might be too much for him (he’s the kind who hears “too much” as a challenge).
Good God,
I would not go near India , especially with fragile old people. The sanitation is nearly non existent in many parts of the country and if they get ill from any bug they are likely to end up dying in the hospitals from antibiotic resistant sepsis, which is running rampant, due to the over use of antibiotics in that country.
Thanks, that’s what I was worried about. My sister had a conference there a few years ago and one man had a medical emergency and no way to access his medical info. It worked out fine, but she was terrified by the medical bureaucracy and felt like they wouldn’t listen to her as a woman. This was in Delhi.
H’s parents are just thinking that they would have to brush their teeth with bottled water.
Nasty GI infections are a problem. I’m sure @Pizzagirl will share her personal experiences. One of my former bosses went there to meet the outsourcing outfit he was considering to hire for a project - came back sicker than a dog. And he had personal guide and stayed in nice places - and used bottle water for everything.
My biggest concern would be with your MIL’s colon issue and what she can and cannot eat. Is she on a restricted diet? It’s also a very long flight.
I’ll play devil’s advocate here: There’s the other thread going about people not wanting to be sitting around in their old age with nothing to do, another about life’s regrets with many posters wishing they had been less fearful, etc. If both FIL and MIL are up for the experience and understand what they are getting into, why not consider it? Especially if they have the funds to do it first class with drivers and other luxuries to make the trip easier with mobility issues. I would also take weather into consideration and not visit during the hottest times of the year. Your in laws can easily relax at the hotels and sit out certain activities that they are not up to while the rest of the family explores. My IL’s are in their 80s and travel extensively but at a VERY slow pace and are selective in what they eat. They are content to just sit and observe and take in the culture. They can bring their medical records with them and have travel/evacuation insurance just in case. I’m sure there is good medical care available for those who can afford it.
But, there are plenty of other places to travel, different destinations in Europe or places like Chile, Argentina if they want something a little more exotic yet less risks.
They were just in Costa Rica. They rented a house from a friend of a friend and had a man cook for them and just hung around in the pool relaxing for a couple of weeks. They can handle that and generally travel well. I just worry that the particular sanitary conditions of India might tip them over the edge. Plus, they wouldn’t be sitting still there.
I don’t know where they would go entirely but I’m sure the usual Taj Mahal, Himalaya foothills, etc., would be on the list.
Agree that consulting with the MDs is a good start. My folks were traveling a lot until fairly recently. They now need more help. It’s definitely a balancing act.
I was just reading some medical sites. I know my MIL has no hepatitis shots so she would need to start planning at least 7 months in advance to get the vaccines!
I’ve been twice - 2014 and 2015. The sanitation is terrible. I developed dysentery and let’s just say I threw away several pieces of clothing. I lay in a hotel room texting my H that I was going to die. I was exaggerating, but I felt just awful and missed several days of my work. And I am a very sturdy, don’t-get-sick type. When I got on my flight home, I sat next to a woman who had the same thing happen to her. I would not take an 80 yo there and I won’t go back.
The Taj Mahal is also overrated. The town smells of urine, it’s smoggy so your pictures are indistinct, and there’s nothing to see inside.
I am up to pretty much any international travel and adventure, but not India.
At this point in my life, even tho I’m not yet 60, I carefully choose my travel destinations. India is not on the list of places I would feel safe visiting, especially with ANY pre-existing medical issues. Would definitely NOT take my folks who are 86 and 91 to travel internationally. They’ve already been a ton of international destinations and it’s too hard at this point.
Of course, it’s really up to the parties involved.
Just spoke to MIL and told her she wasn’t allowed to go! Hahaha, she confessed to me that she hadn’t been very keen on the idea and was worried about her arthritic back pain considering such a long flight, plus the other considerations. She thanked me for the information I told her and said she would speak to FIL and tell him about her misgivings.
Some back story - sister-in-law’s husband (let’s call him Mike) is Indian American and his parents were born in India. His Dad has terminal cancer but is doing relatively well. His Dad was diagnosed about 1 1/2 years ago and it seemed grim at the time. Mike planned a big family trip with the hope that his Dad would look forward to it and rally. Mike’s immediate family, his parents, his brother’s family, and his in-laws (who are my in-laws too) all went to Ireland. Mike’s brother’s wife chose Ireland because she really wanted to go there. I hope I haven’t lost you all… Anyway, MIL told me tonight that it was a wonderful trip but that she felt it was too soon for Mike’s Dad who had just come out of chemo and was very tired. Almost a year later he is doing well and Mike wants to repeat the big family trip only going to India this time.
His parents have been back and forth several times and have family there. My in-laws have not been there, nor have Mike’s children (now about 8 and 10) and his wife was there with him once. I’m sure it would be nice for Mike’s Dad to see his family in India - but they want to go late this May! I told MIL that that wouldn’t let her have enough time to get the Hep A or Hep B vaccine. She doesn’t think she has them.
She is grateful to have some solid info and ammunition to politely refuse the trip if it could be that hazardous to her. I reminded her that her back pain on a long trip is reason enough to change plans. We’ll see…
A 60 year old co-worker returned recently from India. He suffered through liquid bowel movements countless times per day for almost two months. He lost over 20 pounds and spent $ from seeing doctors. He was about to try fidaxomicin which costs $190 per pill x 30 pills but it finally resolved.
The company H works for has business in India and they very regularly send people there. They only stay in westernized hotels and eat at those hotels. But it never seems to fail, a majority of them come back sick, with serious GI issues. When you ask them what they thought happened, and there’s usually some variation of a story that goes, “Well, we were at a CEO’s house for dinner, and ______.” It’s very difficult to tour a country and try to get all three meals a day at the western accommodations and restaurants. H has heard enough stories that he has avoided India at all costs so far, but is not sure how long his luck will hold out and he won’t have a choice but to go; and he is very open to all other international travel to Asia.
I would absolutely not do it unless you also purchased health and travel evacuation insurance. And take along a slew of drugs with you to have in case someone does get sick. At least when H’s colleagues travel there, their occupational health services department provides them with this.
My DD spent a summer in India (Delhi) in 2008; she was age 20. I know that she spent at least a couple of weeks suffering through “Dehli Belly.” It wasn’t a big deal for her – she had gotten vaccinate against all sorts of stuff before going, had a good supply of antibiotics and appropriate meds for the anticipated GI problems, and she never reported anything really debilitating, just really bad stomach cramps for a while.
But she was 20. And no history of health problems of any sort. I think India is an amazing country and it was a tremendous experience and opportunity for my daughter – (she had an internship with a UN agency) – but I have to agree with everyone else – not a good idea for an elderly couple with heath problems.
Late May could also be quite hot. Average temperatures in Delhi for that time of year look to be 91 degrees, and I know from personal experience it can be much hotter than the average.
I’m not saying they should go by any means, but I did want to point out that it is possible to go to India and not get sick. My husband goes there twice a year for work and stays two to three weeks each time. He hasn’t been sick once.
He does, however, schedule his trips for November and Feb./March. There’s no way he would be going in late May!
I have made the personal decision not to tour India, even though there are definitely places I would like to see. I’m currently traveling in China and visited Cambodia solo last fall with a return visit booked. I hope to get to Myanmar (Burma) soon. Definitely not an armchair treveler, but the India stories I’ve heard are just too much concern. Life is too short for the worry. I do sympathize with the desire of the planners to have a nice family gathering, but I personally wouldn’t take the risk.
I had to get Hep A for last fall’s trip. Didn’t have time for the second dose, but MD said that one dose alone was high percentage effective. Blanking on the specific number given. I am not yet 60, however, not 80ish. I also didn’t research or question my MD.
The heat is another reason. My 2014 trip was in June. You literally are soaking wet within minutes of stepping outside. We had two twenty-somethings with us and they were even worn out by it.