Navigating Holiday Travel
Here's the secret to focusing on the joy, not the journey
Dear Caregivers,
In today’s America, with families spread out all over the country, holiday celebrations can be challenging as you and your loved one may have to travel to join the celebration. But with the right planning and precautions, you can navigate these journeys with a "happy holidays" outcome.
Here are some steps to consider:
Make an honest evaluation: Prior to traveling, and perhaps BEFORE even speaking about it with your loved one or others, take stock of your loved one’s current cognitive function, memory, behavior, and overall medical condition. Is your loved one really ready to be in a car or an airplane for several hours? Has your loved one given any indication one way or the other about how they feel about it? What do THEY think about their ability to travel? It can be hard to change long-held traditions, but sometimes that can be the best course of action.
Ask your doctor: If you have any medical concerns, check in with your Loved One's healthcare provider. Do they feel it would be all right for your loved one to travel? And if not, see if your physician can have that conversation directly with your loved one, as sometimes advice coming from a professional can carry more authority and be more convincing.
Bring a “safety” kit: Bring plenty of water, medicines, medical records, as well as activities your loved one typically enjoys, such as favorite music and books. Bring their blanket and pillow if it helps them rest, and any special foods they particularly enjoy.
Pack for "one day at a time": Use packing cubes to put clothes together "by day" rather than clothing type. With this strategy, in the "Sunday" packing cube you have the right clothes, undergarments, and accessories available for the day.
Practice: Try making one or more shorter visits to somewhere nearby in the weeks ahead. That will enable you to get experience and see how it goes, and whether any unforseen issues arise.
Keep the number of your destinations to a minimum. Try to keep your trip to at most one or two places. Consider asking members of the family to travel so you all can meet at one central place, for example, even if it is only for a few hours or a day.
Maintain your regular schedule: Take your meals, medicines, rest breaks, etc., as close as possible to your regular daily schedule.
With a little planning ahead, traveling in the holiday season can result in your being able to focus on the joy, and not the journey!
Here are some more ideas on how to the most out of the holiday season:
Managing Holiday Stress:
Holidays are traditionally a spirited, happy time, but they can be challenging for caregivers, their loved ones, and their families and friends. There are ways to help maintain the enjoyment of the holiday time, however, and let everyone focus on the family ― even if one of the family has Alzheimer’s Disease. Here are some tips.
Keep Track of Medications:
During the busy schedule of travel, holiday celebrations, and other hectic distractions, making sure your loved one takes their medicine correctly is one of the most important tasks of a caregiver. Here are some ideas for how to stay on track managing your loved ones medications.
Strategies for a Good Day…Even If You Can't Be There:
Sometimes you can’t be there as a caregiver for your loved one during part of the holiday season because of work, family, or other commitments. But you can still play a role in helping to ensure that your loved one has a “good day” even if you can’t be there. Here are some tips on how to give your loved one a satisfying day.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Travel brings power and love back into your life”
— Rumi
