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Traveling and vacationing

La Prensa (San Antonio, TX) - 7/30/2015

Alzheimer's Association

When traveling with a person with dementia, consider the stage of the person's disease, any impairments that may affect traveling and what adaptations can be made to make traveling more enjoyable.

Traveling with someone who has dementia

* It's important to remember several things to ensure a positive, calm traveling experience:

* Avoid very loud restaurants and places with a lot of people if the person is overly tired.

* Learn to recognize warning signs of anxiety and agitation.

* Do not move too quickly or appear too hurried.

* Do not overload the person with many directions or too much information.

* If behavior becomes difficult:

* Do not attempt physical restraint or to lead the person away. It may be better to step away or out of reach and monitor the person or call for help.

* Don't take it personally. Speak calmly and do not become drawn into an argument.

Visiting with family or friends

* Be sure to prepare friends or family members for the visit by explaining dementia and the changes it may have caused. Go over any special needs, and explain that the visit may be short or that you may need to change activities on short notice.

* Some additional considerations:

* Request in advance any necessary preparations, such as having certain foods in the refrigerator or bedroom space set up. If it would be helpful, ask your hosts to label important areas, like the bathroom and bedroom, with signs.

* Stay as close to a normal routine as possible. For example, bathing and eating times should be on a similar schedule to what they are at home. Eating in familiar settings, such as a dining room table, may be less confusing than eating at a crowded restaurant.

* Be realistic about abilities and limitations. Allow for extra time when scheduling activities.

When making travel plans

* Travel during the time of day that is best. For example, if the late afternoon is a time of increased agitation, avoid traveling at this time.

* Stick with familiar modes of transportation and destinations if the person traveled by car before onset of disease, travel by car rather than by airplane. Visit places that the person has visited before and may remember.

* Keep travel/vacation plans simple - choose a trip with few changes versus a fast-paced sightseeing tour, and avoid having to change planes or dealing with layovers. All of these could overwhelm the person.

* Avoid planning a trip where emergency health services and pharmacies to refill prescriptions are not easily accessible.

* Have a backup plan in case the trip needs to change unexpectedly. This may mean purchasing traveler's insurance if flights or hotels were booked ahead of time.

* It can help to create an itinerary that includes details about each destination, and then give copies to family members or friends at the destination and/or to emergency contacts at home. The caregiver or traveling companion should keep a copy of your itinerary with him or her at all times.

* Remember to pack necessary medications, up-to-date medical information, a list of emergency contacts and photocopies of important legal documents.

* Allow plenty of time for rest. Don't over-schedule.

* Learn if there are services available at your destination by contacting your local Alzheimer's Association.

* If traveling involves too many risks for the person with dementia, call the Alzheimer's Association to help you find an alternative plan that allows the person to remain at home.

Special considerations for air travel

* Airports are full of things that will require attention. At times, so much activity can be distracting, overwhelming or difficult to understand. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you're traveling by plane:

* Avoid scheduling flights that require tight connections. Ask about airport escort services that can help you get from place to place.

* Inform the airline and airport medical service department ahead of time of your specific needs to ensure they can be prepared to assist you. When requesting assistance, most airlines ask for at least 48 hours advance notice.

* Do not hesitate to remind airport employees and in-flight crew members of your needs.

* Even if walking is not difficult, consider requesting a wheelchair so that an airport employee is assigned to help you get from place to place in the airport.

Consider the needs and the safety of the person

* Changes in environment can trigger wandering. Be sure to enroll both the person with dementia and the caregiver in MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with dementia that wander or who have a medical emergency. The enrollment phone number is 1.888.572.8566. Those already enrolled should notify MedicAlert + Safe Return of travel plans.

* Have the caregiver or traveling companion advise airlines, hotels and tour operators that he or she will be traveling with a person who has Alzheimer's.

* Educate service/hospitality professionals about disease and person's behaviors and special needs.

* Maintain daily routines (e.g., accommodate eating and bathing times and routines as much as possible.

* Avoid busy places - big cities or amusement parks may cause overstimulation, confusion, or anxiety in person.

* If the trip involves staying in a hotel, caregivers may inform the staff ahead of time of any specific needs so they can be prepared to assist.

* Have a bag of essentials with the caregiver or travelling companion throughout the trip that includes medications, a copy of the travel itinerary, a comfortable change of clothes for the PWD, water, snacks and activities in case of waiting time.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, call 800-2723900 or visit www.alz.org.

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