You are to care for the veterans assigned to you as if they are a family member. Because of their advanced age (70’s, 80s and 90s), we must remember that they may move and react slower. Patience is key. That being said it is important you pay attention to how your veteran reacts to your offers of assistance as some are still very independent and don’t need a lot of assistance. Again, be patient and observant.

 

Every veteran will have an assigned guardian to assist them. On rare occasions two completely ambulatory veterans may have the same guardian.

 

Meet your veteran before the flight. If you are a Volunteer Guardian and have not had the chance to meet your veteran previously (something we highly encourage), you will meet in Portland on Thursday afternoon.

 

Guardians will share hotel rooms with assigned veterans. There may be occasions when 2 veterans will share the same room, if so, you will share a room with another guardian.

 

Attend the required Guardian Training. Guardians will be trained on various aspects of the Flight on Thursday night, before the trip. This includes specific responsibilities and assigned tasks, general responsibilities and medical issues.

 

Safety is our major concern. For elderly person, a fall is a serious issue. Stay with your veteran and do your best to prevent them from slips or falls. 

 

Wheelchairs & Companion Chairs—We provide them although the veteran may bring their own. You and the veteran are responsible if a personal chair is used and must see that it gets back to Portland. We assume no liability for use of personal equipment on an Honor Flight. We will have extra wheelchairs and companion chairs. Walkers are not allowed on an Honor Flight.

 

Watch for medical issues. Be alert to any veteran who is having difficulty walking and have them sit down immediately. Find any medical team member, Team Leader or Flight Leader

 

Be available to assist your veteran at all locations. You will need to watch some veterans more closely than others. Be particularly alert toward the end of the day when fatigue can be higher.

 

Inform a medical team member and your Team Leader or Flight Leader immediately if any veteran complains of fatigue, experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, facial droop, seems confused, falls or vomits. Locate a medical volunteer on the trip who can help determine if a call to 911 is appropriate. Should we place a veteran under medical care, their guardian will stay with them until he/she is cleared by medical staff.

 

Do not permit veterans to pay for anything during the trip, except for souvenirs they want to take home. We have made arrangements for adequate food and drink for the trip. Flight Leaders will take care of tipping.

 

Prevent important items from being left behind. Check the bus, the airplane, the hotel room, wherever the veterans have been, to make sure that they do not leave their wallet, glasses, medications, cell phone, camera, memorabilia, etc. behind. Be able to assure them that their bags and other items have not been left behind. Please help attach name tags to the veteran’s carry on bag, if needed.

 

You may come in contact with news media requesting interviews. Please refer them to a Flight Leader.

 

Do not accept donations. During the trip, other parties might wish to make donations to our South Willamette Valley Honor Flight project. Please refer them to a Flight Leader.

 

Promote conversation between veterans. Most veterans on our trip have not met before. Be friendly, open and give the veterans a chance to talk and get to know each other. Listen and provide a sympathetic ear. For some veterans, this might be the first time they have ever talked about painful experiences that they may have forgotten. If this happens, don’t feel that you have to make a comment – just listen and thank them for sharing their stories with you.

 

Encourage veterans to take lots of photos during the trip, especially at the memorials. Offer to take their photo with their cameras and attempt at least one picture of the veteran at each place we visit with their camera. If you are a family member ask others to take photos of both of you at the memorials. If a veteran does not have a camera, take lots of pictures with your own camera if you have one. Assure your veteran you will get photos to them. Trip leaders will arrange group photos.

 

Make sure that your veteran eats meals and drinks fluids. This is a great time to remind veterans to take their medications. Meals and drinks will be provided. Often older travelers do not like to drink when they travel. Because Washington, DC can be much more humid than Oregon, please encourage your veteran to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Restrooms are available on the airplane, the bus, at the memorials and throughout the airports. Staying hydrated throughout the Honor Flight is important for everyone.

 

During flights, encourage your veteran to walk the aisle as a means of also improving blood circulation. If a veteran is unable or prefers not to walk, encourage the veteran to do foot and leg flexures frequently to maintain good circulation. If at any time you feel assistance is needed locate the overhead flight attendant call button. Flight attendants are trained to assist seniors.

 

All Guardians will be provided cell phone contact information for Flight and Team Leaders as well as the medical team.

 

Remember to keep assigned veterans in sight. We will be traveling in a group in generally safe places. But, be aware of anyone trying to compromise any of our group (pickpocket, beggars, etc.)

 

Know your veteran's medication schedule. If you are a family member serving as guardian for your veteran make sure you are aware of the medications they are on and the time they need to take medications. If they use an inhaler, make sure they use it as prescribed and have enough cartridges to last for the length of the trip.

 

If your Veteran has a DNR (Do Not Resituate Order), they must carry it with them as we travel. Our Medical Volunteers would need this information should a medical emergency occur.

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Guardians and volunteers have a critical role in the success of each Honor Flight. While a guardian may be looking after a family member, they must also be watchful of other veterans in the group, and be willing to assist the Flight Leader and Team Leader when needed. Thank you again for being a part of the Honor Flight experience and helping to honor our veterans.

 

If you have any questions, please email info@swvhonorflight.org