{"id":145856,"date":"2026-04-12T07:25:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/?p=145856"},"modified":"2026-04-12T16:27:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:27:35","slug":"family-living-focus-travel-guidelines-for-people-with-memory-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/family-living-focus-travel-guidelines-for-people-with-memory-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Living Focus: Travel Guidelines for People with Memory Disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor<\/em>
\nEmeritus, University of Minnesota<\/em><\/p>\n

Many people enjoy travel as a form of recreation, relaxation, and an
\nopportunity to learn. While travel may be a positive experience for most
\npeople, it poses special problems for people with illnesses such as
\nAlzheimer’s disease, dementia or Parkinson’s disease or injury that results
\nin disabling intellectual impairment.<\/p>\n

People with dementia have ever-increasing trouble with changes of pace,
\nchanges in location, fatigue, groups of people, changes of time zone, and
\nnoise.\u00a0 In a familiar environment, there are many environmental cues that
\nhelp a person with dementia to remain connected to reality.\u00a0 A favorite
\nchair, a well-learned TV control, and a familiar floor plan are taken for
\ngranted.<\/p>\n

Unfamiliar places lack these well-known connections and result in increased
\nconfusion, anxiety, and fear.\u00a0 Even places that once were familiar, such as
\na winter home, can seem new or alien, triggering fear or anger.\u00a0 Caregivers
\nwho are planning to travel need to plan trips carefully in advance, using
\nboth travel and healthcare professionals to determine the best possible
\nmethods to cause the least distress to your loved one.<\/p>\n

The following guidelines can assist with travel planning.\u00a0 Using them can
\nenhance the success of the trip.<\/p>\n

What can be done in case of emergency?\u00a0 Do you know of medical services in
\nthe areas you travel to?\u00a0 Do you need to take special medications with you
\nin case of agitation?\u00a0 Having a plan can save hours of stress and panic.<\/p>\n

What are the care receiver’s limitations and strengths?<\/p>\n

As a general rule, the more advanced the disease, the more difficult travel
\nwill be.\u00a0 For example, care receivers who are still relatively independent
\nand care for themselves will have fewer problems with travel than someone
\nwho requires direction to bathe and change their clothing.<\/p>\n

As a rule, someone who requires assistance with bathing, changing clothing,
\ndressing, and toileting will have significant difficulty even with short,
\nsimple overnight trips.\u00a0 At time when it may be easier for retired people to
\nvisit adult children who work, it may be better to have the children visit
\nyou even if it means paying for their travel.<\/p>\n

Care receivers who exhibit any of the following behaviors should avoid
\novernight travel unless in an emergency:<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Become physically or verbally aggressive.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Missed perceptions, have paranoid thoughts, hallucinations, or
\ndelusions (for example, think people steal from them).
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Become confused during or after social outings.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wake at night confused.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Have poorly managed incontinence (or who require special assistance
\nor equipment with feeding if public dining rooms must be used).
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Have episodes where they do not recognize their caregiver.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Fall.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Yell, scream, or cry spontaneously.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Resist or argue with their caregiver’s directions.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wander or pace.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Demand to leave social settings or restaurants early.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are easily frightened, confused, or agitated.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are unable to communicate their needs to others.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Have unstable medical conditions.<\/p>\n

Assess the caregiver’s limitations
\nThere are also caregiver-related issues to be considered.\u00a0 Caregivers should
\navoid traveling with their impaired person if they (the caregiver) have any
\nof the following characteristics:<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Become upset or cannot manage well during a crisis.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are embarrassed when their loved one acts out or does something
\nembarrassing.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Have unstable or complicated health problems.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are embarrassed to go into an opposite sex restroom to supervise
\ntheir loved one.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are unable to manage in high stress situations or with little sleep.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Insist on maintaining strict honesty and argue with their loved one
\nabout mistakes and missed perceptions.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are not able or willing to make significant adaptations during the
\ntrip often at a moment’s notice to meet their loved one’s changing needs,
\nincluding canceling the
\ntravel mid-trip.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Do not think they want to take the trip but will do it for their
\nloved one.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Think there will be no change in their loved one’s behavior during
\nthe trip.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Are not willing to plan well in advance.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Resist seeking help as needed, thinking they can manage on their
\nown.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Think that trips to familiar places (such as an adult child’s home
\nor cabin) will be ‘just like it used to be’ because it is ‘familiar and
\nfun.’<\/p>\n

The Trip
\nWhile travel may be enjoyable, getting to your destination is generally not
\nrelaxing.\u00a0 The following are principles to consider when planning the trip:<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The process of ‘getting there’ should be as short and simple as
\npossible.\u00a0 Plan a trip that involves as few changes as possible.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Trips should be to a single destination, rather than a series of
\nvisits.\u00a0 For example, you would want to travel to a wedding and home but not
\ntake three months stopping at friends’ homes along the way.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Stick with the familiar.\u00a0 Vacation in ways your loved one was
\naccustomed to before the onset of the disease.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Consider a shorter trip.\u00a0 Day or weekend trips may be a better
\nalternative, particularly if you are unsure of your loved one’s reaction to
\ntravel.\u00a0 If everything goes well, go for a longer visit.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0If your loved one has not traveled in six months, schedule a ‘trial’
\novernight stay nearby home to see if your loved one can still tolerate
\ntravel.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gather necessary papers and documents, including insurance cards,
\npassports, physician’s phone number, medication refills, and the care
\nreceiver’s medical record. Do not expect your loved one to carry these
\ndocuments or tickets.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rest periods should be built into the travel schedule.\u00a0 Planning too
\nmany activities, such as meals in a restaurant, can lead to late night
\nconfusion or agitation.\u00a0 Do not plan activities for the night you arrive.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Save travel for your loved one’s best time of day.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Use services specifically designated for people with disabilities.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Spend as little time as possible in areas with large groups of more
\nthan 20 people, loud noises, or lots of activity (for example, airport gate
\nareas).\u00a0 Avoid busy places and situations that will cause anxiety for your
\nloved one.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Never expect the person with dementia to travel alone.\u00a0 Do not
\nexpect travel employees (flight attendants, gate personnel) to care for or
\nsupervise your loved one. Always have the care receiver carry
\nidentification.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Expect your loved one to become more confused, agitated, or
\nbehaviorally difficult during the trip.\u00a0 Assist with menus and choices.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Do not expect other members of a tour to volunteer or be agreeable
\nif you need help with your loved one.<\/p>\n

Advise hotels, airlines, tour operators, or people you are visiting that you
\nare traveling with someone with memory impairment.\u00a0 Be specific about your
\nsafety concerns and special needs.\u00a0 If you are staying in a private home,
\nguest home, or bed and breakfast, do not surprise your overnight host with
\nyour loved one’s condition.\u00a0 Explain it fully, well in advance.\u00a0 Do not
\nthink they will not notice.\u00a0 Do not be upset if they feel they cannot handle
\nthe visit, especially if there are children in the home.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Never travel without a full set of reservations.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Always provide family members with an itinerary and call home
\nregularly.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Make a list of the daily routine and special items you need to take
\nwith you.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Always have the person with memory loss identified, preferably with
\na bracelet your loved one cannot misplace.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Use good judgment when telling your loved one about the trip.
\nDiscussing it too far in advance may produce anxiety and agitation.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Be flexible.\u00a0 Have a contingency plan that allows you to leave early
\nif your loved one becomes ill, agitated, or wants to go home.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Keep your sense of humor and laugh at all the things that happen.
\nThey will be part of a wonderful memory of your travels together.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0If the trip is prolonged, develop a list of medical professionals
\nalong your route.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Never leave your loved one alone or ask strangers to watch him\/her.
\nA person who does not know your loved one or the disease will not know how
\nto react in a difficult situation.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Avoid traveling at peak travel seasons such as Thanksgiving and
\nChristmas
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Take medications with you to manage stomach upset, diarrhea, or
\nother temporary problems caused by changes in food and water.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Know how to get help and who can help in countries where you do not
\nspeak the language.
\n*\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Search the Internet to see if there is a travel agent in your area
\nspecializing in planning trips for people with disabilities.\u00a0 If so, use the
\nspecialized service.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota Many people enjoy travel as a form of recreation, relaxation, and an opportunity to learn. While travel may be a positive experience for most people, it poses special problems for people with illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or Parkinson’s disease or …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletters"],"aioseo_notices":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":true,"date":"2026-10-31 16:25:19","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[0],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145856"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":145857,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145856\/revisions\/145857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepyeyeonline.com\/goodnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}