Holiday travel can be difficult for seniors, but the challenges become much greater for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) wants us to remember that traveling with individuals affected by Alzheimer’s requires additional thought and preparation. Here are some tips from the AEDA to help you plan a safe and successful trip for a person with Alzheimer’s disease:
- Call the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the area he or she will visit to learn about available resources. Call 1.800.272.3900 or visit www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp to search by state or zip code.
- Enroll the senior in an emergency response service or tracking service. MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® is a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who may wander or experience a medical emergency. For more information, call 1.888.633.4298. Another option is the Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone®, a Web-based GPS location management service in which families can remotely monitor a person with Alzheimer’s. For more information on Comfort Zone, call 1.877.259.4850.
- If your senior is already enrolled in MedicAlert, be sure to update his or her records with temporary contact information relating to the trip destination. Call 1.888.572.8566 for more information.
For more travel tips, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Safety Center at www.alz.org/safetycenter or call 1.800.272.3900 for the Alzheimer’s Association chapter near you.
