With summer in full swing and school starting next month, this is the time when families start taking vacations. Whether it be a road trip that involves several destinations or flying to a single destination, traveling can be as stressful as it is exciting. For the more than 15 million Americans who care for a loved with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia, the stress of traveling can be much greater.
Everyone needs a vacation, be it from work or the daily grind of responsibilities. None more so than a family caregiver. If you are planning a vacation and will be traveling with someone with Alzheimer’s, there are several steps to take to make the trip less stressful for everyone.

• Be Prepared (Pack copies of important documents, medications and doctor’s names and numbers. Get referrals of doctors near your destination.)
• Keep it Familiar (Try to keep changes to daily schedule at a minimum and if possible, travel to familiar locations.)
• Make it Comfortable (Especially for long drives; have a change of clothes, water, snacks and activities on hand.)
• Plan Ahead (Inform hotel, airline and airport staff of specific needs you may have.)
• Be Flexible (If possible, travel during the time of day that works best for the person with dementia.)

As anyone who cares for someone with dementia knows, the key to a successful day is ones ability to adjust. Trying to maintain a rigid schedule while traveling will not likely be possible. Depending on what stage the person is in, will dictate much of the scheduling. There are several “practice” sessions that can be done ahead of time to gage reactions and time allotments. If possible, try some of these out.

Take the person to the airport. You can see first hand how they might react to the crowds as well as determine how long it may take you to get through checking, security and boarding. Check with your airport staff to see what services they can offer to aid you during the process.
Spend the night in a motel/hotel room. This will give you an idea of how the person with dementia may react to going to sleep and waking up in unfamiliar surroundings. As with flying, alert hotel staff of any special needs you have or extra security they might offer.
Take a long drive with the person. If you are planning on driving for your vacation, this will help to determine how many stops you may need to make or how long the person is comfortable riding in a car.
Take day trips. Before you leave on vacation, take several day trips to different locations. This may help in also learning of activities that you both can enjoy and you can seek them out in your vacation destination.

With careful planning and a flexible schedule, you and your loved one will both find traveling less stressful and ultimately more enjoyable. Call your local Alzheimer's Association branch to get more helpful information and if needed, the branch number in your destination area.

Have you traveled with someone with dementia? What experiences did you have? Can you share helpful tips that made your trip more enjoyable and easier? We look forward to your comments.