Safety Issues with Seniors

The holidays are quicky approaching us! That means traveling near and far to visit with family and loves ones. This is such a great time of the year so I wanted to provide you with some tips to help traveling go smoothly when you are bringing along someone who has a cognitive impairment. In addition, November is also National Alzheimer's disease Awareness Month so I wanted to address a topic related to Alzheimer's disease this month. Below are some holiday travel tips from the Alzheimer's Association:

Avoid having a rushed schedule. This only increases anxiety.
If traveling by plane, minimize stops and long layovers in the airport
Travel at a time when the person is most alert
Rely on familiar and comfortable destinations
Carry identification such as the Safe Return/Medic Alert bracelet, which can be purchased through the Alzheimer's Association.

Following these tips will help the caregiver and the person with dementia have a safe and hopefully a great time when visiting families and friends. In addition, vaccinations are also important for older adults when traveling. For more information on vaccinations and traveling with older adults, please refer to Jean Bandos blog titled "Vaccinations and Travel Planning for the Elderly".