Bob and Juanita Wellington remember their trip to South America last year fondly. The septuagenarian couple took a cruise around the southern tip of the continent from Chile to Brazil, stopping for day trips along the way.
At one point they stood under the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, a 125-foot statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched looking over the city.
“We stood up there and looked down at the city and it was so beautiful,” recalled Juanita, 74. “We like to experience other cultures and see how different they are from ours. It’s fun to get acquainted with different cultural aspects.”
The experience was a significant one, and not just because the couple from Tacoma, Washington got to spend time in foreign countries. Bob, 76, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010.
They both said they haven’t let the disease stop them from traveling.
“We love seeing new places and new cultures,” Bob said.
Traveling with someone who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is possible, but there are extra precautions to take, says Monica Moreno, the director of early-stage initiatives for the Alzheimer’s Association. The nonprofit regularly sends people with early stage Alzheimer’s to events across the country, and Moreno often travels with them.
Plan ahead
She has several tips for travel, most of which center on being prepared and organized. Give the person with Alzheimer’s a detailed itinerary even though he or she will have a travel companion, Moreno said.
“One of the things that’s most helpful is having a travel itinerary that details where you need to be, at what time, what your flight number is, seat number, what hotel you’re staying in and emergency contact information for someone other than the travel companion,” she said.
Moreno also recommends arriving very early for flights, having a letter from a doctor that allows you to go through security together, preboarding and avoiding layovers.
She said to call ahead to airlines and airports, because many will arrange a greeter to meet you at security and show you to your gate.
“That’s one less thing the care partner has to worry about,” she said.
Develop a routine
Another big help to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia is to keep as many things as familiar as possible, which can be a struggle when traveling, Moreno said.
“Having a routine works really well,” she said. “Try staying at the same hotel, visiting locations you’re familiar with, and keep the daily routine as similar as possible to what it is at home.”
“When people travel, they try to put as much activity into their days as possible, but that can be exhausting,” she added. “Allocate time to rest and relax as well as doing things you enjoy.”
That’s exactly what the Wellingtons have done.
“We used to run around and see everything we could possibly see, but now I just watch to see when he’s starting to get tired, and then we stop and sit in a sidewalk cafe, or go and rest, have something to eat, calm down and take it easy for a while,” Juanita said.
Bob said the couple owes their ability to travel to Juanita’s organizational skills.
“She works very, very hard to be well planned and safe,” he said. “She’s keeping track of all the things we need and the packing, the most minute details. It’s an incredible the amount of work that goes into it that she is now put in the position to do, because I can’t keep track of this level of detail anymore.”
He said his wife’s efforts mean a lot to him.
“It reduces my stress, although it certainly doesn’t help hers any,” he said. “I know everything is going to go smoothly because she works so hard to plan everything.”
Travel with a companion
Moreno said once someone has been diagnosed, she doesn’t recommend that person ever travel alone, even if they’re in early stages.
“You never know when someone may wander or get disoriented,” she said. “Traveling in unfamiliar surroundings can also trigger that behavior.”
She said it’s also difficult to know at what point someone can no longer travel, because it will be different for each person.
Prepare for challenges
“It’s critically important to recognize changes that are happening and what modifications can be made,” she said.
She recommends calling the Alzheimer’s Association hotline -- 1-800-272-3900 -- where clinicians are available to walk a family through questions and challenges while traveling. She also advised signing up for the Safe Return program, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for people with Alzheimer's or dementia.
The Wellingtons are taking all of these precautions as they prepare for more travel. They already have two trips planned next year: cruises to both Africa and the Mediterranean.
“Travel has been our hobby for years and years and years,” Juanita said. “I minored in art history, and I want to see all the beautiful places I’ve studied. It’s what we want to spend our time and money on.”
As his wife spoke, Bob remembered another cruise the couple had taken to Cuba.
“I remember the music in Cuba, there was a lot of music in the streets as we would walk along,” he said. “I really thoroughly enjoyed walking along calmly and listening to the music. It settled me down and made that particular travel that much more enjoyable.”