Dementia: Driving and Travel Concerns

Questions and Answers

1. Can we travel with parents with dementia?

   - We'd like to take my parents to Hawaii, their favorite place in the whole world, one last time. They live in an assisted living facility, both have dementia, but they currently go out unescorted for walks. They are registered with Safe Return and we would bring a baby monitor. Can they stay in a condo adjacent to mine...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

2. Should my dad be driving with mild dementia?

   - Should my dad be driving with mild dementia? My father has always been an excellent driver, and at 85 he still doesn't seem to have any trouble driving. However, he was recently diagnosed with mild dementia. According to my dad, his doctor said it was OK for him to continue driving...
   1 Expert Answer

3. I'm moving my mother, but should I take her by car or send her by plane?

   - I am planning to move my mother to our new house in Texas from her home in Arizona. She can no longer live by herself and I have been caring for her since April. I am having difficulty coordinating the last minute details. My mom has early stages of dementia, has been on hospice now uses the walker, has osteo and COPD...
   1 Expert Answer

4. FAQ: Is it Okay for Someone With Dementia to Travel?

   - Yes. It's okay for someone with dementia to travel. Here's how to help a person with dementia travel as safely and calmly as possible.
   1 Expert Answer

5. Can my mom continue to drive if she taking Aricept?

   - I asked my mom's primary doctor about Aricept since my 88-year old mother has lately declined in her mental abilities. I'm not sure whether this is the beginning of Alzheimer's or possibly dementia. The doctor said if he prescribed that medication then he would have to write up that she has Alzeimer's and she would not be able to drive...
   1 Expert Answer

6. What 's the best way to travel with dementia?

   - I care for a woman with dementia and for the last three years we fly to Florida for the winter months and back to Michigan for the summer. She is very abusive when she does not want to be somewhere anymore; last spring the airplane ride was the hardest as she kept undoing her seat belt and trying to...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

7. How can I get my mother an in home aide without offending her?

   - My mom has dementia, and is headed towards Alzheimer's. She is getting less and less lucid each day, but is still functioning well (driving, some cooking) although she can't keep her own schedule and has forgotten how to do many basic things. She also falls -- a lot. She has also picked up smoking again...
   1 Expert Answer

Topics, Blog Posts, Articles, Checklists, and To-Do Lists

1. Can Someone With Dementia Continue to Drive?

   Article - Encouragement and practicals steps for caregivers who wonder if their parents with dementia can still drive safely.

2. How to Stop Someone With Alzheimer's from Driving

   Article - When it's time for someone with Alzheimer's to stop driving, it takes a plan and empathy from the caregiver. This article covers both why you might meet resistance and what do to provide alternative transportation.

3. How to Handle Holiday Travel and Celebration Problems Common to People With Alzheimer's and Other Dementias

   Article - How do you make holidays easier for Alzheimer's patients? Making holidays, travel, and celebrations easier for Alzheimer's patients take planning.