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Planning A Vacation
For Someone With Dementia
By
Beverly Moore |
Question: What
is the best way to plan a vacation with someone suffering
from dementia and should we still vacation at all this
summer?
Answer: A vacation is a time of “vacating” the usual
daily routine. Vacationing with someone with dementia will
be different. Change always presents a challenge for the
person with memory loss; confusion, disorientation and
heightened anxiety are common. It will require thoughtful
planning to determine how far a distance to go, what mode of
transportation to use, and whether one care partner is
sufficient to be sure all enjoy themselves.
A person with dementia may become frightened traveling a
busy highway or going to a new place. For example if staying
at hotels, the person may leave the room (or the hotel) to
“find” a familiar place. They may lose their way to the
bathroom, resulting in an incontinence episode.
Does the person consistently recognize the care partner? In
a stressful situation can the person with dementia be
calmed? What soothes the person when they are upset?
My advice is to plan a short vacation close to home first to
“test the waters.” Have an alternate plan if the person
becomes too frightened with the change. Can you return home
easily? Do you need another person along to help? It may
mean the difference between a restful vacation and the usual
routine, but in a different place. Everyone, especially
caregivers, need vacation.
Next Month's Question: What are some ways to calm
an anxious person with dementia? |
About The Author
Beverly is
owner of Alzheimer Coaching Services. She offers coaching to
understand dementia and to learn to accommodate the person
through habilitation methods. Her company is located in
Quincy and you may reach her at (617) 233-1145, or
www.alzheimercoachingservices.com.
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