“We’ve both had ‘that’ trip — the last trip that you take when you decide we’re not traveling ever again with our care receiver. Or, as we like to say, it’s the trip after the last trip you should have taken!”

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned travel decisions require careful consideration. Through our experiences, and what we’ve learned from support groups and others on their journeys, we’ve developed four important tips to help you decide whether you and your care receiver should stay home or go on what could be ‘that’ trip.

See Full Show Notes here 

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• Fidget blanket here

Takeaways

Tip 1: Pre-test Travel Readiness

Key points:

• Test longer car rides (at least an hour round trip)
• Try interstate driving if that will be part of your journey
• Experience crowds and noise if those will be present
• Test unfamiliar environments
• Pay attention to any existing signs of travel difficulty.

Tip 2: Evaluate All Trip Components

Key points:

• Assess sleeping arrangements and bathroom accessibility
• Consider the need for quiet space
• Evaluate support options at the destination
• Think about familiarity with locations
• Listen to your inner voice about the decision — is this the wisest choice?

Tip 3: Plan Comprehensively

Key points:

1. Minimize advance information to avoid overwhelming your care receiver.
2. Pack comfort items:

• Fidget blankets
• Familiar snacks
• Favorite music and headphones
• Photo books
• Familiar entertainment (DVDs, etc.)

3. Plan around normal routines:

• Meal times
• Sleep schedule
• Best times of day for different amounts of activity

4. Prepare for emergencies:

• Take IDs and insurance cards
• Bring extra medications
• Pack legal documents
• Consider anti-anxiety medication options
• Share detailed itinerary with family members
• Have your emergency contact information easy to find on your care receiver and in case something happens to you.

Tip 4: Prepare Others

Key points:

• Explain current abilities and challenges
• Provide conversation guidance
• Demonstrate proper approach techniques
• Give permission for others to opt out if they’re not comfortable
• Show grace toward those processing their own emotions

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