Advice

Planning to travel with a person who has dementia

We asked Dementia together magazine readers and members of our Dementia Support Forum for their advice about planning travel.

Depending on the way you choose to travel and the specific needs of the person with dementia, there are ways to support them. Suggestions for different types of transport are included below, and in our information on holidays and travel.

Accessing extra assistance on trains

Toto2 says, ‘I travelled often with my dad on trains and sometimes planes. I found calling the company useful to notify them that you are travelling with a person with dementia and would therefore require extra assistance.

‘A quiet seating area preferably near the toilet and taking some earphones with downloads of soothing, calming music helped a great deal. As did simple snacks.

‘Baby wipes for any spills. Drinks in a spill-proof cup or carton, and some simple yet interesting things to do like cards or puzzles.

‘Once you let the company know they were always extra attentive and ensured they “checked in” with us every few hours to make sure we were comfortable.

‘If you have room, an extra change of clothes in your hand luggage prepares you for any accidents.

Lastly, relax and enjoy your journey, pointing out anything along the way that is of interest.

A ‘kit list’ for travelling

Alisongs's kit list includes:

• radar key for accessible loos
• paper towel roll
• two or three dustbin liners
• baby wipes
• a full change of clothes each
• two or three disposable pull-up undies (and wear a pair on the trip), rip off at the sides
• fully charged mobile phone power bank
• snacks
• mini sports bottles of drinks
• ear defenders.

Airport assistance and flight breaks

MaryP365 says, ‘To date, I haven’t experienced any issues using special assistance at Luton or Heathrow airports and it went very smoothly.

‘The Civil Aviation Authority also has information on special assistance and how to access it.

‘You can inform the airline that you are travelling with someone with dementia, as it gives them a heads up.’

lea.silkstone says, ‘My mum (who has dementia) was medically advised not to fly beyond seven hours. My sister is in Australia so that’s stopped all visits.

‘My sister has also had experience of people with dementia flying there and having extreme delirium on arrival due to the impact on the brain. So my recommendation is try and break up the journey, giving days between each flight.’

Car trips and continence

CDS says, ‘I make short trips using a wheelchair accessible vehicle and a trip of a few hours or so is generally OK.

‘My partner is incontinent and that’s not a problem provided we are not away so long that she needs changing, then it’s a nightmare because she needs a hoist. For the same reason, we can’t travel away from home.

‘Even with a portable hoist you need the right facilities, such as floors that a hoist can move over, hospital type bed etc.’

Grable says, ‘Things I always took with me in the car after one disastrous day out: a bucket, disinfectant, many cloths, a big bottle of water and a change of clothes for me and the person with dementia.

‘Being “caught short” can happen to anybody, but when you’ve got dementia, it’s not something that’s easily dealt with unless you have help.

‘Luckily, in our case, there was a very kind shopkeeper who gave us towels and disinfectant and leant us a bucket for me to clean up the public loo!’