What to Arrange at Home Before a Senior Travels Alone

A practical rundown of home security, mail, utilities, pet care, and emergency contact plans to sort out before a solo senior trip.

Why Home Preparation Matters for Solo Senior Travelers

Traveling alone as a senior can be deeply rewarding — but the comfort of a smooth trip begins before you ever lock the front door. When there is no travel companion to share responsibilities, every home detail falls to you in advance. A missed mail pile, an unattended pet, or a neighbor who doesn't know you're gone can turn into real headaches from hundreds of miles away.

This checklist walks through the practical home arrangements that solo senior travelers most often overlook. Work through it in the days or weeks before departure, and you'll board your flight, bus, or cruise ship knowing your home is in order. For the full pre-departure picture — including documents and medications — see the pre-departure checklist every senior traveler should run through.

Required

USPS Mail Hold Service

Pause mail delivery for up to 30 days so letters and packages don't accumulate while you're away.

Optional

Smart Plug or Light Timer

Automate interior lights on a schedule to make the home appear occupied during your absence.

Required

Printed Home Information Sheet

A single-page document left at home listing your itinerary, emergency contacts, and utility shutoff locations for your home contact.

Required

Pet Care Agreement (Written)

A written summary of feeding schedules, medications, vet contacts, and emergency procedures for whoever is caring for your pet.

Your Home Preparation Checklist

The items below are grouped by category. Work through each group at your own pace — most can be completed in an afternoon once you know your travel dates.

Home Security

Arrange for a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to check on your home every two to three days. Must

Set interior lights on timers so the home does not look unoccupied after dark. Must

Confirm all doors and windows are locked and that spare keys are held by your designated home contact — not left outside. Must

Notify a neighbor you trust so they can report anything unusual to you or authorities. Should

Pause or reroute newspaper and package deliveries to prevent obvious accumulation. Should

Mail and Deliveries

Submit a mail hold request with USPS (or your carrier) for the full duration of your trip. Must

Cancel or pause any scheduled deliveries — groceries, prescriptions, or subscription boxes — due during your absence. Must

Ask your home contact to collect any unexpected packages that arrive despite paused deliveries. Should

Utilities and Home Systems

Adjust your thermostat to a safe baseline temperature — typically 60–65°F in winter to prevent pipe damage, or a moderate setting in summer. Must

Unplug non-essential appliances and electronics to reduce fire risk and lower energy use. Should

Shut off the main water supply if you'll be away more than a week and no one is regularly checking on the property. Should

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries before you leave. Must

Pet and Plant Care

Arrange confirmed, paid care for any pets — whether with a sitter, boarding facility, or trusted friend — well before departure. Must

Leave written feeding, medication, and veterinary contact instructions with your pet caregiver. Must

Arrange for someone to water plants or move them to a location where they'll survive your absence. Nice to have

Financial and Administrative

Notify your bank and credit card providers of your travel dates and destinations to prevent fraud holds. Must

Schedule or prepay any bills due during your trip — mortgage, utilities, insurance premiums — so nothing lapses. Must

Confirm your travel insurance coverage is active and that your home contact has the policy number and claims phone number. Should

Emergency Information at Home

Leave a printed emergency contact sheet at home with your travel itinerary, accommodation addresses, and a reachable phone number. Must

Share your itinerary with at least one family member or close friend who is not your home contact. Must

Establish a simple check-in routine — a daily text or call — so someone knows you're safe. Should

Avoid Announcing Your Trip on Social Media

Posting travel plans or real-time photos publicly before or during a trip can inadvertently signal that your home is unoccupied. Consider sharing your travel memories after you return rather than in the moment. If you do post while traveling, review your privacy settings so only trusted connections can see your updates.

Once your home arrangements are squared away, shift your focus outward. The safety habits that make solo travel after 65 possible covers practical routines to keep you secure once you're on the road. And if you haven't yet built a formal emergency plan, building a senior travel emergency plan is an excellent companion resource.

Why Home Preparation Matters for Solo Senior Travelers

Your Home Preparation Checklist

Senior Trip Planning Editorial Team