The holiday season is here, and for many, that comes with a brisk travel schedule. Every year, many people around the world make flight plans to visit family and friends, and they often plan to travel with their senior loved one. Air travel can be challenging on its own, but when you plan on traveling with a senior who has early dementia, there could be some additional challenges. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to make the process seamless and enjoyable. Senior Helpers, proudly serving seniors in the Fargo, West Fargo, and Grand Forks areas has what you need to know about flying with a relative with early dementia.
Go In Prepared
The best thing you can do when traveling with a senior loved one with dementia is to prepare fully for the flight. This includes making sure that you have all the boarding documents and ID information for yourself and your travel companion prepared in advance, and ensuring that you arrive at the airport well ahead of your scheduled flight departure. Less stress means a smoother travel experience overall. Additionally, if your senior loved one struggles with anxiety, traveling at a relaxed pace will help them to stay calm. It might help to explain the plan to your travel companion before the trip, describing where you are going and how you will get there. You might have to repeat this several times, so remain patient.
Allow Your Senior Loved One Their Agency
It's important to remember that a diagnosis never defines a person. To this end, your senior loved one's dementia doesn't take away their rights as an adult. While you will need to be on hand whenever possible to assist and console your senior, you should allow your companion as much space as you can. After all, you want your senior loved one to enjoy their travels as well.
Maintain a Sense of Humor
During most flights or long-distance trips, something will inevitably go wrong. Whether you accidentally leave behind your toothbrush or have to deal with a delayed flight, the one certainty is that things rarely go perfectly according to plan. According to AARP, one of the best ways to travel, especially when traveling with a senior loved one with dementia, is to maintain a sense of humor throughout the process. Don't get too bogged down in the details and try to focus your attention on creating fond moments with your senior loved one.
Senior Helpers Provides Premier In-Home Care Services
Ultimately, by making a solid plan and managing expectations, traveling with a senior loved one with dementia can not only be successful but a true joy as well. After all, the holiday season is all about making memories with family and friends. Senior Helpers proudly serves senior adults in and around the Jamestown, Valley City, and Wahpeton areas, providing premier in-home caregiving services. Contact Senior Helpers today to learn more about the services and solutions that we provide!