Traveling with someone with dementia can be challenging and stressful. However, it is generally possible with careful planning to ensure safety and a sense of security and comfort. Caregivers need to plan well in advance for travel and carefully assess the person's limitations as well as their own. It may be helpful to consult travel professionals and health care professionals about the best possible methods to travel while causing the least distress to the person.
It may be useful to try a ‘trial run' by taking a short trip using the same type of transport planned for the longer trip. This trial run will give provide a sense of the person's travel capacity. If the person does not tolerate the shorter trip, it may not be a good idea to travel.
There are a number of signs that may indicate that travel is not a good idea. These include the following:
Caregivers should assess themselves to make sure that they are prepared to travel with someone with dementia. It's important to have realistic expectations. While traveling, caregivers will need to manage unexpected events and challenging behaviors, sometimes in public. They may face many stressful situations and lack of sleep. They must show patience and flexibility in their plans. If the care recipient is of the opposite sex, the caregiver may need to go into opposite sex restrooms to assist the person. And caregivers must be willing to plan in advance and seek help as needed.
Here are some tips to consider when planning to travel with someone with dementia:
References
Alzheimer's Association. (Nov 2007). Travel Safety. Retrieved on May 22, 2008 from http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_travelsafety.pdf. Dementia and travelling. (Nov 2007). Retrieved on May 22, 2008 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Dementia_and_travelling. Hall GR. Travel guidelines for people with dementing illness. University of Iowa. Retrieved on May 22, 2008 from http://www.centeronaging.uiowa.edu/archive/pubs/Newest%20Versions%20-%20pdf%20format/Travel%20Guidelines.pdf. Moxley J. (1996). Totebag and Toothbrush: Travel Tips for the Alzheimer's Caregiver. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Piedmont Triad Alzheimer's Association.
Last Modified 07/15/2009