Content provided by Home Instead Senior Care.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s does not necessarily mean someone must be homebound, especially early in the disease. Talk with medical professionals to determine if your loved one is able to travel and whether it might be beneficial. Consider what soothes your loved one and what will help keep them calm and connected if you do make a trip.
The following tips may help make the journey more pleasant for you and your loved one.
1. Pack a family photo album so that you can look at pictures together.
2. Bring along CDs filled with the person’s favorite music for the car ride.
3. Always have snacks and water on hand.
4. Play trivia about movies and musicians of the person’s era.
5. Put a bunch of junk mail and old jewelry in a bag to root through.
6. Include rest periods to avoid agitation.
7. Let your loved one take the lead in whatever you’re doing. He or she can do the talking while you do the listening.
8. Suggest travel games, like crossword puzzles and word searches.
9. Talk about the scenery and places outside the windows.
10. Make sure your loved one is riding in comfort. Take along a favorite pillow or blanket.
