Just the Facts and More: Vacationing

Vacations are a time for families to share new experiences, see interesting places, and get rest and relaxation. If you are the caregiver of a family member with Alzheimer's, it will be important for you to consider the stage of the person's illness, any impairments that might affect traveling, and what adaptations can be made to make a vacation relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. You will want to consider the following suggestions before you take your next vacation.

Action Steps

Plan a manageable vacation.

• Think about your expectations. If you choose to travel with the family member, you will have many of the same responsibilities you have at home. In that sense, this will be a "working" vacation. If you are interested in rest and relaxation for yourself, you may want to consider taking time away with a friend and arranging respite care for the person in your home or at a local care facility.
• Stick with the familiar. Consider vacationing in ways the person was accustomed to before the onset of the disease. For example, if the person has never traveled by airplane, it would probably be better to drive. If the person has never taken a beach vacation, choose something familiar such as a trip to a nearby attraction. Spending a short time traveling to a destination may be most helpful to the person.
• Stay away from busy places or from situations that may cause the person to feel overstimulated or anxious. In most cases, large cities such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles might make the person confused or anxious. Large amusement parks might also pose problems. Visiting a relative, who has a large family with a busy, bustling household, may not be a relaxing time.
• Keep your vacation simple. For example, avoid the temptation to plan a fast-paced sightseeing trip. Instead, plan a trip that involves as few changes as possible. Escorted tours can be enjoyable if you are traveling with a group of people you know well and who understand your caregiving responsibilities.
• Consider a short trip. If you are unsure how the person will react to traveling, consider a shortened version of a long trip. If the patient reacts positively, you can return at a later time for a longer visit.
• Choose a "fail-safe" option. Pick a vacation package that allows you to leave early -- without financial penalty -- if the person becomes ill or wants to return home.
• Develop a list of destinations and contact information for family members at home as well as a list of medical professionals along your travel route for you and your loved. Alzheimer's Association Chapters are an excellent source of medical and social service contacts.

Consider the needs and safety of the person with Alzheimer's.

• Advise airlines, hotels, or tour operators that you are traveling with a person who has memory impairment, and provide some examples of your safety concerns and special needs. For example, you may want to reserve a wheelchair and plan for special meals prior to an airplane flight, or let the tour operator know that your family member cannot be unaccompanied.
• Prepare identification items for your traveling companion. Make certain that your family member wears an identification bracelet or clothing tag with his/her full name and your name. You will want to keep all credit cards, travelers' checks, and passports with you for security.
• Never leave your loved one alone. If you are on a tour sponsored by your church or a local civic group, you may be able to rely occasionally on help from friends. Never ask a stranger to watch the person. A person who is unacquainted with the effects of the disease and doesn't know you or the person won't understand how to react in a difficult situation.
• Take security precautions. For example, if you are traveling by car, automatic locks are useful. To prevent the person from exiting the car, you may want to remove the locks from his/her side of the car. In most cases, the person should sit next to the driver and not in the back seat. Keep in mind that automatic windows can also be dangerous.
• Prepare your traveling companion. Telling your loved one about the trip in advance may help him/her feel part of the decision-making process. On the other hand, you may only need to inform him/her shortly before leaving with a simple explanation: "We're going on a trip together to Michigan. I'm going to start packing some of your things. Can you help me pack this suitcase?" You may also find it less disruptive simply to announce your plans on the day you are leaving.
• Time your travel. If (s)he travels better at a specific time of the day, you may want to make plans accordingly. Take breaks along the way for snacks.
• Anticipate and avoid delays. If you are traveling by train, bus, or plane, have a friend drive you to the departure point to relieve you of parking the car and handling the luggage. Call ahead to determine if your departure will be delayed. (Many people find it disturbing to wait for hours in crowded terminals.) In addition, bring along items such as magazines, audiotapes, or a deck of cards to entertain and relax your family member.
• Plan ahead for rest room use. If the person is a man and you are a woman, or vice versa, you may want to bring along a friend or family member or solicit the help of a staff member who can accompany him/her into the public rest room at a terminal. Once aboard the train or plane, see if you can accompany him/her to the rest room. It may also be helpful to provide extra protection by using adult incontinence products.
• Allow for extra time. Avoid the temptation to cram several activities into one day. Instead, plan for a single activity and have a couple of alternatives in mind if there is extra time available. In addition, you and the person may need more time in between activities to relax and rest.
• Maintain familiar eating patterns and times. If your family member is used to eating at the kitchen table every evening at home, it is probably not wise to plan for a dinner in a crowded restaurant. You may want to find a very quiet restaurant, use room service, or stay at a hotel or motel that has a kitchen available. Also, serve him/her the same type of food at the same time of day that you do at home.
• Maintain daily routines. For example, if the person bathes or showers every morning, you should try to maintain that routine.
• Have faith in your own knowledge, judgment and experience. No one knows the individual better than you do. While a growing number of hotel and tour operators have oriented their employees in dealing with persons with dementia, you understand best what does and doesn't work. Have confidence in your abilities and in your loving concern as a caregiver and enjoy your special time together.

 

Resources

One of the best places to turn for additional help is the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association has more than 83 chapters and 1,600 support groups nationwide, where family members of patients with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder share their experiences, provide each other with emotional support, hear practical suggestions and learn to rebuild their lives.

The primary resource for this fact sheet was Liz Kendall, RN, BSN, Caregiving Program Specialist, Center on Rural Elderly, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri.

Special thanks and appreciation go to the following chapters of the Alzheimer's Association: Greater Dallas, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Manatee Sarasota Counties, and South Central Pennsylvania.

Special thanks also goes to the Duke Alzheimer's Family Support Center, Duke University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Other Resources include:

• Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins, MD. The 36-Hour Day. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.

Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.