Can someone experiencing Alzheimer's Disease still travel?
ABSOLUTLY!
Hi, this is Teri. I am a third generation Alzheimer’s Survivor and co-caregiver of a parent living with Alzheimer’s Disease.
People experiencing memory loss can travel. Let me define that a little better. They must be in the earlier stages of the disease. This is when they can still live independently, dressing and feeding themselves. Once someone has entered Assisted Living or Memory Care, they might still be able to travel. But you will want to carefully review that with their healthcare team.
The key to all successful travel is planning and communication. Traveling with someone with memory loss is no different. To ensure a calm and successful journey, I encourage planning ahead and sharing that plan with your travel partner.
I have created a travel planner to help you with the planning and communicating this information to your loved one. Here is a link to the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9
You know the warning signs of their anxiety and potential agitation. Before leaving, you must identify strategies to reduce them. Discuss this with your loved one to understand what will work best. Refrain from verbally overloading your loved one with many directions or too much information. You can refer them back to their Travel Planner & Journal as all of the information will be organized there.
I think it is easier to prepare all medication & dosing in advance. Always keep the medication with you while traveling. Do not pack it in the suitcase in case your luggage is misplaced. We use a monthly organizer with a separate box for each day. The organizer breaks each day down into 2 doses. It looks like this:
This also helps me keep track of what she remembers to take and what she forgets.
Remember to take your insurance cards with you. And a list of all of the doctors on your loved one’s care team. It will be easier to have everything in one place if there is an emergency. You will find a place for insurance cards in the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal to help with that. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9)
Each location on your trip has a website. Go to the websites in advance, call the locations to let them know you are coming and might need assistance, and ask them what they can do to help.
Try to keep the primary daily routines the same. Get up at the same time each day, meals, naps, medications, and bedtime should be at the same time each day.
Always have a backup plan. I strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance. It is easy to add to your cart when purchasing the tickets. Another great solution is to call the credit cards company you are working with to purchase the tickets. Most credit card companies offer travel services and insurance to support you if you must make changes to your trip. American Express also offers health insurance. A friend of mine was traveling with family to Hawaii, her daughter had a medical emergency. American Express paid all the ICU bills and hired a private jet to fly them back home once the child was stabilized.
You will also want to communicate your travel plans with all of the people you plan to visit on your trip and someone at home. Emergencies do happen and checking in with someone who knows your schedule at the end of each day is smart.
Whether you travel by plane, train, or automobile, keep a bag of essential items and a small first aid kit. (https://amzn.to/3V0qgf0) These should include medications, a travel itinerary, travel planner & journal, a change of clothes, water, snacks, and activities. If your loved one is experiencing issues with incontinence be sure you have party pants with you (https://amzn.to/3VghHON).
Be sure your loved one has easy-to-find and easy-to-read identification on them at all times. If your loved one wears an Apple watch, these ID tags are super easy to wear. They are customizable to include multiple medical conditions.
Carry a calling card to quickly and easily communicate to people that your travel partner has Alzheimer's. I made up business cards with this on the front and back. It is super easy to communicate to anyone that my loved one requires patience.
Lastly, Don't forget about you! Be sure to plan things that you enjoy too.
Airports & Airlines
When booking your flight, try to work with the airline directly. Tell them about your loved one's special needs. Try not to book trips with connecting flights. Fly direct whenever possible. If not possible, ensure you have plenty of time to make your connecting flight. Never leave someone experiencing memory loss to navigate plane changes and connection on their own.
Go online to check in and print your boarding pass in advance. This way, you will only have to check your baggage when you arrive. I would encourage you to check as much baggage as you can. This will make getting through TSA and the gate process much more manageable.
Do not drive to the airport and park. Parking and shuttling to the terminal will add too much confusion. Instead, take a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or have a friend drop you off at the curb. When you arrive at the airport, immediately request assistance. There will be multiple porters or skycaps available to help with your luggage. This needs to be a part of your advance planning. Go to the airport's website to see where they are located.
All of the airlines will offer wheelchair assistance. However, you must communicate your need. Look for anyone wearing a red jacket. They are there to assist you. Be patient; many people likely need assistance, and it may take a moment to get to you.
TSA has protocols for people with "Non-Visible Disabilities & Medical Conditions." Just communicate the Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis to the TSA agent and your loved one will be screened without being separated from you. If you are not getting the accommodations you require from TSA, ask for a supervisor.
When traveling with someone experiencing memory loss, be sure to allow for extra time. Stop to rest and relax at each stage of the process. If your loved one needs assistance in the restroom, ask where you can find a "companion care bathroom." This will give you plenty of space to care for your loved one.
Once you arrive at the gate, be sure to talk to the gate agent. Let them know that your travel partner is experiencing memory loss and that you will need assistance boarding the plane. They will not only be sure to board you in the first group but also notify the destination and let them know you will need assistance getting off the plane.
Now, sit back and relax as you fly to your destination. Once you arrive, you will have plenty of help getting you to your hotel. But again, you will have to ask for assistance.
Car
If your trip is short, traveling by car might be more manageable. The same tips apply. Planning and communication will go a long way toward easing travel anxiety. I am always more comfortable on a car trip, knowing I have AAA. I am confident that whatever may happen to the car, they will help me as soon as I call. You can also keep a roadside kit just in case you get stranded (https://amzn.to/3Ki1T7H)
Before you leave, be sure your car is in good working order. This will go a long way to eliminate potential emergencies. I take my car to the dealership for regularly scheduled maintenance. Before any car trip, I take it back in to get the oil changed and let my service advisor know I am traveling, how many miles I will be driving and I ask her to let me know if there are any potential issues I need to resolve.
Keep a first aid kit in the car for minor medical issues. This will provide you with band aids, antibiotic creams, Tylenol, a cold pack and more. Somehow we manage to injure ourselves just sitting in a car. (https://amzn.to/4aH7dw5)
Remember, this is a vacation. You can stop as many times as you want or need to. Try not to pack too much into a single day. I would not recommend driving more than 6 hours or 300 miles daily.
Hotels
Contact the hotel in advance and tell them you are traveling with someone experiencing memory loss. Ask them what services they provide that can help you. Stay in the same room as your loved one, or at least enjoy a connecting room.
If you will have multiple stops on your trip, try to stay at the same brand of hotel. This will make it easier for your loved one, as all of their locations will be very similar, if not the same. I recommend you request a room with the same layout at each location. For example: bathroom on the left side of the room at each stay. This will make nighttime bathrooms visits much easier to find. Take nightlights and place one in the bathroom and any other space you think might create a problem. (These nightlights are rechargeable and double as a flashlight if needed: https://amzn.to/3WQyvx0)
Remind the night manager that you are traveling with someone experiencing memory loss, just in case your loved one gets out of the room and is wandering at night. The night manager can contact you and get them back to their room quickly if your loved one does escape
Don’t forget about you! Be sure to plan things that you enjoy too.