Last week, I traveled from Indianapolis, IN to Litchfield, CT with my Mother to attend my sister’s wedding.  It was a long trip as we got to the airport early to deal with security, took a 2 hour flight to Newark and then rented a car and drove 3 hours to a Bed and Breakfast in Connecticut.  Along the way, we had to take our shoes off, give up our purses for a security inspection, and take escalators, elevators and a train in pursuit of a National rental car.  Everyone knows that traveling today is an exercise in both patience and logistics…b ut when you are accompanying a senior who is not steady on her feet and tends to be confused….. the patience/logistics requirements increase ten-fold.

Planning and advance preparation can help ease the journey.  In our case, I found it helpful to:

• Keep my Mother’s ticket and ID with mine, rather than risk her misplacing the paperwork.
• Consolidate all carry-on items in one bag (meds, jewelry, reading material), so there was less to keep track of during the trip.
• Dress for the security line….slip on shoes, no heavy jewelry, easy to remove jacket.
• Bring an extra sweater, as most airports are freezing.
• Pack snacks in case of airline delays, missed meals and long wait times.  The food court can be a long way from the assigned gate – a walk a senior is not up to.  If a senior has diabetes or a loss of mobility, packing snacks is essential to avoiding missed meals or long walks to the food court.
• Request a wheelchair or flag down a motorized cart to assist with transportation from gate to gate, if necessary.
• Stop when the senior gets tired and sit for a few minutes.  The airport pace is very difficult for a senior to keep up with.  This is especially true if your loved one has a loss of mobility.
• Limit information and do not provide it all at once – just focus on the next step and explain to the senior.  Discussing the entire itinerary i.e. we are catching a plane, then renting a car, then driving to Connecticut... is too overwhelming.
• Remember that the crowds, noise and fast pace of the airport can contribute to a senior’s confusion and anxiety.  Try to buffer them as much as possible by walking so that they are close to the wall and you are on the outside to take the bumps as people push past you.
• Be sensitive to their fears – dementia may cause even seasoned flyers to feel nervous about flying.
• Enlist help – ask someone else to accompany you to help with luggage, logistics and provide moral support.
• Enjoy the senior’s sense of wonder along the way – for them, a plane trip is a rare and exciting event. 

In summary, traveling with a senior should not be taken lightly.  Advance planning is key to ensuring a safe and stress-free trip for both caregivers and seniors alike. Be prepared, be patient and always remember that seniors will need extra special care and attention during the trip.