What are some things to assure safe travels and vacation for someone who has dementia?
Traveling with an individual with dementia can be challenging, but planning well in advance can ease the struggles you may face during vacation times.
The number one consideration is safety. Traveling to unfamiliar places and veering off a regular routine can promote wandering behaviors and anxiety. It would be a good idea to make sure the affected individual is registered in a safe return program such as Safe Return+MedicAlert or other assistive devices for wandering that are offered. The registration process usually takes 4-6 weeks so this process should be completed well in advance of your travel date.
Don't forget to pack important documents with you such as medical records, including insurance information, a list of current medications and physician information. Some caregivers find it useful to carry a business card-sized notecard, identifying that they are a caregiver accompanying someone with dementia or Alzheimer's. This allows the service industry personnel to be aware of the affected individual, keeping their dignity intact. Also, leave the itinerary for the trip with family and friends and keep a copy with you all the time so that it is easily accessible.
Because the affected individual might get uncomfortable and disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, it is helpful to take along something with which they are familiar, such as a favorite pillow or blanket or even a treasured photograph. Creating an “activity bag,” with items such as headphones for listening to music, adult coloring books, fidget blankets and pictorial books will help with easing stress and giving the individual something to do. Try as much as possible to mimic the structure and routine they are used to as this could avoid a lot of anxiety for them.
If traveling by air, it's a good idea to schedule direct flights, if possible, and ones that are no longer than four hours. This is the same if you are traveling by car. You should take into consideration if your trip is going to take longer than four hours as then it is advised to have another caregiver to assist you. Always keep in mind that individuals with dementia need extra time to feel comfortable in their surroundings, so patience is a must, especially in travel and vacations.
If your travels are to visit relatives, it would be best to stay in a nearby hotel to provide a calm place to go when the trip and/or visits become too hectic or overwhelming for the individual. A hotel stay can also maintain that familiar routine for them. Additionally, relatives might be unaware of the individual’s progression with dementia and therefore, not know what to expect or how to act, which can make everyone nervous and the visit unpleasant.
Individuals with dementia appreciate consistency and routine and if in the early stages of this disease, it may be easier to travel with them. On the other hand, if you notice the individual experiencing escalating behaviors, showing physical or verbal aggression, and unstable medical conditions or if they are at a high risk of falling, you may want to consider a way to have a stay-at-home vacation and find things to do locally.