Elderly parent ill or injured abroad: how to bring them home

Reviewed by the AirAmbulance.org editorial team · Updated 6 November 2026 · Editorial policy

When an elderly parent falls ill abroad, families have to manage a foreign hospital, insurance and travel all at once. Here's a calm, step-by-step approach.

First steps

• Get the hospital's name, the treating doctor and a contact number.
• Call the travel insurer's assistance line; they may manage everything.
• Ask for regular updates and the medical report in English.

Bringing them home

• Doctors confirm when travel is safe.
• Options: a medical escort on a commercial flight, a commercial stretcher, or an air ambulance.
• Arrange the receiving hospital, care home or home care before they fly.

If there's no insurance

• Ask for quotes for both escort and air ambulance options.
• Ask the embassy or consulate for help with local information.

General information only, not medical, legal or insurance advice. Rules, coverage and prices change; confirm with your provider and insurer.