If you have a loved one living with dementia, you may wonder how to include them in vacations and family outings. After all, these events are important opportunities for your family to connect. But structure and routine are important for people with dementia, and travel brings with it unfamiliar people, places and foods that can make a person confused or anxious.
Lori Nisson, a licensed social worker and director with Banner Sun Health Research Institute and Banner Alzheimer's Institute, offered some tips for planning and traveling with someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. “Traveling with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease, or another form of dementia requires planning, flexibility and realistic expectations,” she said.
The disease gets worse over time and changes how easily people can travel and adapt to their surroundings. Last summer’s road trip might have gone smoothly, but that doesn’t mean you can expect the same this year.
Generally speaking, people in the mild stages of dementia may travel quite well. However, cognitive and functional changes throughout the disease can make traveling much more difficult down the road.
Planning and preparing
People living with Alzheimer’s disease need consistency in their daily routines and environment. Thorough planning may help reduce stress and confusion. Consider:
- Your loved one’s current limits for change and stress.
- Needs for care assistance with activities like eating, toileting, dressing and bathing.
- Overall comfort in unfamiliar settings when daily structure and routines are different.
A trial overnight or weekend excursion can be a good idea. A short trip can show you how your loved one might handle a longer vacation. If the test trip doesn’t go well, then you may need to reconsider taking your loved one on vacation and perhaps plan a day trip instead.
If a longer trip seems like it may work, you’ll want to choose the right destination if possible. Your loved one may feel most comfortable in a familiar place, so a location you’ve visited before might be a good option.
You’ll want a place that’s quiet, calm and close to medical care in case a health problem comes up.
If you’re visiting relatives, Nisson recommends staying in a hotel rather than in their home, so your loved one has a calm place to retreat and can follow mealtimes and schedules. “It is also important to realize that these family members may not be familiar with the person’s changed abilities and behaviors. Consider offering a status update to educate them before you arrive,” she says.
You may want to bring a regular caregiver along to add support and stability to your travels, rather than having a family member or friend who is an unfamiliar care partner.
Of course, you’ll also want to think about how you’ll get to your destination:
- Driving is a popular choice because it’s flexible and familiar and you’re in control. But keep in mind long drives may be tiring and stressful for someone living with dementia.
- Flying covers long distances faster, but getting through airports and security can be overwhelming. Noise and confined spaces may also trigger anxiety. Some airports have practices to support people who are traveling with dementia.
- Taking a train gives you fewer security checks, more space to move around and calming scenic routes. But you might not find convenient routes between your home and your destination.
Once you’ve decided on your destination and your transportation method, you'll want to create a travel itinerary. A structured schedule can help lower confusion and anxiety.
In your itinerary, include detailed plans such as your departure and arrival times, hotel check-in and check-out times, meal schedules and planned activities. Schedule regular breaks to rest and eat, which can help lower fatigue and keep to a routine. Be sure to build in some flexibility for unexpected changes or delays.
It’s a good idea to buy travel insurance and refundable flights since dementia can be unpredictable.
What to bring
The right documents, items and supplies can help make your trip go more smoothly and prepare you for problems that might crop up. You should bring:
- Valid identification for you and your loved one.
- The medical history of the person with dementia, with current medications and dosages.
- Health insurance cards and contact information for health care providers.
- Emergency contacts.
- A copy of your travel plans, including flight, hotel and transportation details.
- Enough medication for the entire trip, plus a few extra days. Keep medications in medisets or a medication organizer. Also make sure to have a current accurate list of medications with you.
- Comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, extra undergarments and changes of clothes in case things get soiled.
- Medical supplies, such as incontinence products, glucose monitors or hearing aids.
- Comfort items, like your loved one’s favorite clothes, a blanket or pillow, a favorite book or photos of family members.
- A Medic Alert bracelet or GPS tracker in case you accidentally get separated.
Managing challenges
When you're a travel companion for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia, it's important to plan for challenges. Unfamiliar surroundings and routines can lead to disorientation.
- Help them become familiar with the space when you arrive. Point out the bathroom, bedroom and exits.
- Use photos or signs to label rooms and important items so your loved one can manage more easily.
- Try to keep your routine as close to the home routine as possible, with regular mealtimes, rest periods and activities.
- Keep your loved one close by, especially in crowded or unfamiliar places. You may want to hold hands to reassure them.
These tips can help if your loved one becomes agitated or anxious:
- Stay calm, speak in a gentle tone and use clear language.
- Distract them with a favorite activity like a puzzle, photo book or music.
- Hold hands or offer a hug for reassurance.
- Find a quiet space where they can relax away from noise and crowds.
Navigating airport security may be a challenge.
- Let security personnel know about your loved one’s condition.
- Make sure your loved one wears an ID bracelet with contact information.
- Keep an eye on your loved one to help prevent wandering. It may help to have them wear brightly colored clothing on travel days.
- Have a plan in place in case your loved one is disoriented, agitated or separated from you. Know where and how to seek help ahead of time.
- Check with your local and destination airports, since some are dementia-friendly and offer practices to better support families traveling with a loved one who has dementia.
Enjoying the trip
With all that planning and preparation behind you, it's time to enjoy your vacation together. Your loved one living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia may enjoy activities such as:
- Sightseeing in low-key, scenic spots where they can enjoy the atmosphere without feeling overwhelmed. Parks, gardens and beaches may be good options.
- Listening to music, attending a small concert or visiting a quiet art gallery can be soothing and engaging.
- Gentle exercise like walking, swimming or stretching can be enjoyable and good for their health.
- Looking at photo albums or digital slideshows of family members and familiar places may spark memories and conversations.
- Crafts and hobbies like knitting, drawing or solving puzzles can help your loved one relax.
Be sure your loved one eats well and drinks plenty of water and fluids when you’re traveling as these can be easy to overlook when you’re not following your usual routine. Limit caffeine and sugar, which may make them restless or anxious. “Look for opportunities to take a bathroom break every one to two hours,” Nisson said.
Travel may not be the right choice
“For those living with Alzheimer’s disease, vacations may not be an opportunity to build wonderful memories. Rather, they may be seen as a source of disruption and uncertainty. You will have more success when you weave more structure and familiarity into the trip,” Nisson said.
If you find travel disruptive, distressing or unmanageable, you may want to have your loved one stay home with a trusted caregiver and use travel as an opportunity to take respite for yourself.
The bottom line
Traveling with a loved one who is living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia may be challenging. If you decide to make the trip, good planning, choosing the right destination, including calm activities and expecting challenges can help.
To find out more about Alzheimer's disease and related dementia education, support and resources please reach out to an expert at Banner Health.
