The holiday season is in full swing and you may have already booked your flight tickets and started planning your next trip to visit friends and family. However, if someone you know is living with dementia, Alzheimer’s diseaseThey may wonder if traveling is a realistic option for them in the first place.
Traveling during the holidays is always a little stressful. Airports are crowded, highways are congested, and flight delays and cancellations can derail even the best-laid plans. For people with dementia who have problems with memory, thinking, and other cognitive abilities, these environmental stressors can cause feelings of anxiety, disorientation, and confusion.
Fortunately, having Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of cognitive decline doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling completely. Here are tips and tricks to ensure a safe and comfortable vacation experience, and how traveling can help you have a safe and comfortable vacation. benefit them Living with dementia.
Traveling with a dementia patient
These concerns can affect more people than you realize. Now, even more people are being affected. Over 55 million people worldwide According to the World Health Organization, they are living with some form of dementia. In the United States, Approximately 6 million people He has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
But what special considerations should you keep in mind when traveling with someone with dementia? Monica Moreno, senior director of care and support at the Alzheimer’s Association, says planning ahead is key. talk.
“We know that people living with dementia can still take part in travel, whether it’s by car or by plane,” she says. “What families need to realize is that they have to plan ahead to make sure everyone feels safe. [has] It’s a fun experience. ”
read more: Four main types of dementia
How to fly with someone with dementia
If you’re traveling by plane, Moreno continues, it’s important to consider that airports can be upsetting or anxiety-provoking for the person. In more advanced cases of dementia, he may wander or get lost.
“We encourage families to look up flight times early in the morning because we know there will be less disruption than if they were traveling later in the day,” she says.
take care of security
Moreno said flying can be especially stressful for people with dementia, especially when going through security.
“We encourage families to share with staff that the person is living with dementia whenever possible,” she continues. “They don’t have to tell the staff what their diagnosis is; they just alert the attending staff that they may need more time.”
avoid crowded places
Additionally, caregivers can avoid potentially crowded areas. That way, you can keep an eye on the person to make sure they don’t wander or get lost.
“[Some] Families arrange for assistance in getting from one gate to another,” Moreno said. “Because walking that long distance can be difficult for a person, even physically. Whether you use a wheelchair or a mobile cart, the important thing is the services that the airport provides. It’s about taking advantage of it.”
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How about a road trip?
If you’re driving, on the other hand, one way to plan ahead is to look for places along your route where you can pull over and take a break or grab a snack.
“Alternatively, it’s important to avoid long drives during road trips,” Moreno says. “Instead of him driving 12 hours a day, he might end up driving only five hours a day, spread over longer days.”
“We are really thinking about what we can do to disrupt travel so that it is not a very difficult experience for people with dementia,” she added.
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Should people with dementia travel alone?
Many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Condition that worsens over time, not everyone needs such intensive support. In fact, some people are able to continue traveling alone even in the early stages of their illness.
“There may be some changes to travel, such as early morning travel or travel without connecting flights,” Moreno said. “If you have a connecting flight, you need to allow enough time to get from gate to gate.”
However, as the disease progresses, air or car travel can become disorienting and stressful, and at some point the person may be unable to continue traveling.
“That’s why it’s important for caregivers to understand what challenges travel presents and how those challenges can be addressed,” says Moreno. “But you also need to recognize when it is no longer appropriate for that person to travel.”
At that point, it’s also worth considering whether you can travel to visit. they For the holidays, rather than the other way around.
read more: How to prevent dehydration in dementia patients
Travel preparation tips
There are some others travel tips Spend the holidays with your loved one with dementia.
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Explain your travel plans to the person with dementia in advance so they understand what to expect. However, don’t give too many directions.
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Try to stick to what you are familiar with. If possible, travel to a known destination that does not involve too many changes to your personal daily life.
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Create a single travel itinerary with flight and hotel details for each destination, as well as a list of emergency contacts.
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Prepare a bag with your travel itinerary, essentials such as a change of clothes, medicine, water, snacks, and activities.
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Take enough rest time. Be careful not to overschedule or overstimulate.
read more: How to prevent dehydration in dementia patients
Benefits of holiday travel for people with dementia
Despite these considerations and challenges, travel can have real health benefits for people with dementia.
Improves cognitive and sensory functions
A team of Australian researchers announced that they have discovered that some travel-related experiences, such as sightseeing or going out to dinner, can provide cognitive, sensory and social stimulation. Papers for 2022 in Advances in tourism.
For example, scientists suggest that tourism may stimulate thinking, memory, and concentration, giving the brain a mental workout.
Promotes heart health
Additionally, going out on holiday involves walking more than usual, which benefits your personal fitness and heart health.
“If a person with dementia enjoys traveling and visiting family all the time, they will want to keep their daily life as normal as possible,” says Moreno. “It’s okay to continue the journey with that person for as long as possible to make the most of their life.”
read more: How to talk to someone with dementia