Can the Early Signs of Dementia Put an End to Traveling for Seniors?

Older generations often chose to save their money so that they can travel after retirement. It’s a sad fact that many of them are unable to do so because of various age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes to name a few. Let’s explore the issue of traveling for seniors.

Out of the various age-related conditions that can prove to be prohibitive for traveling at an old age, early onset of dementia is one of the worst ones to deal with. Taking a flight to see different parts of the world is not a feasible option for someone who may at times, forget their own identity and reason to be where they are at that time.

Traveling for Seniors is Still Possible If the Dementia is Manageable

Alzheimer’s Disease, the main cause behind dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that can be slowed down, but it cannot be cured. That being said, it is possible to manage the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s with proper care. Provided that everything is on point, traveling should not be out of the question for seniors, even if they have mild to moderate levels of dementia. As to what precautions and measures should be taken, the following examples will help in making that part clear.

Accompaniment is a Must

No one with dementia, irrespective of how mild it is, should ever travel alone anywhere. A caregiver and/or a close family member/relative/friend should be accompanying them on their travels. Preferably they should be people who know the senior traveler and his/her condition quite well.

Booking Medical Transport Flights Ensures Air Safety

Dementia and flights do not go well together, especially for first-time fliers. Contact Flying Angels for affordable medical transport flights, and they will make sure both the patients and their family members have nothing to worry about during the course of their journey, irrespective of how long it is. However, it is recommended to keep the total airtime lower than 3 – 4 hours.

Paying a Visit to the Doctor

Paying a visit to the doctor prior to the journey is important as it serves two particularly important functions:

1. The doctor will be able to certify whether the patient is indeed fit to travel or not
2. They will add further precautions to the list and write a prescription for the necessary meds

The younger generations travel so frequently now that they have little to no idea regarding how things were back in the old days. The Silent Generation (born between 1928 – 1945) and The Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 – 1964) seldom had the money to travel at will, and even the ones who did couldn’t find enough time for traveling on leisure very frequently. 

Most importantly, though, the travel & tourism industry was not even close to being as well established as it is today, and it was certainly much more expensive (in respect to the value of currency at the time). Now that they have made it possible for us to see better days, it is our duty to help them enjoy a golden retirement that never came to be.