Dementia dads can also travel abroad

Summer vacation is coming, and many family members have asked in support group activities whether it is possible to take the elderly with dementia at home to travel together? So everyone was very excited and told interesting stories about how the family traveled abroad during the past summer vacation. Some people also mentioned that since there was an elder with dementia at home, they seemed to be tied up and could not go anywhere. The children were complaining.

A family member suddenly said that when Teacher Yi introduced nostalgia therapy in the book "While You Remember", he mentioned that he took Yi's father back to his hometown to visit relatives and went to China several times. What was he like at that time? Did it? Does this mean that even elderly people with dementia can still fly abroad?

I say that this varies from person to person and must be considered: the elder’s current type of dementia, disease course, physiological condition, lower limb ability and sense of balance, physical fitness, psychology, family preparation, and purpose of travel. , family awareness and other aspects.

First of all, there are different types and courses of dementia, which means that the location and degree of brain nerve damage in the elderly are different. This not only affects the focus and method of care, but also affects our assessment of whether Suitable for traveling, or traveling there, etc. For example: Alzheimer's disease affects the memory area first, but the limbs are not affected. If it is Parkinson's disease combined with dementia or Lewy body dementia For elderly people with chronic diseases, the condition of their limbs, whether there are any walking arrangements during the travel itinerary, and whether they require considerable physical fitness, etc. need to be considered.

Then there is the purpose of travel, which forms or condenses with family consciousness. If family tourism can be combined with a nostalgic trip for the elderly with dementia, the tourism will be more meaningful and have positive benefits. You can first understand the places in the elder's life history that are meaningful to his life. As a family care manager, you can first collect information and make suggestions, and form a common sense through family meetings, so that this tour can be a family tour. , it can also be a nostalgic trip for the elderly, and it can also achieve the inheritance of family culture.

The physiological condition of the elderly is an important factor affecting whether the trip is possible. It is recommended that families review the health status of their elders in advance and make preliminary travel plans, including itinerary, number of days, local temperature, climate, longitude and latitude, altitude, humidity, use of transportation, physical requirements, food and accommodation Collect information such as medical records, medication records, allergies, vaccination records, etc. During the outpatient consultation with the elderly attending physician, ask the physician for advice. If feasible, in addition to daily medication, do you need to prepare relevant medications in advance, such as: to prevent altitude sickness? , motion sickness, airsickness, seasickness, gastrointestinal and other medicines.

Preparation and planning in advance are very important. In addition to medicines, the elderly should prepare all kinds of clothing, toiletries, simple blood pressure monitors, reading glasses, binoculars, eye masks, etc., whether it is summer or often outdoors. , you must bring a jacket to avoid too strong air conditioning indoors or in vehicles.

During the travel itinerary, when taking long-distance transportation, if it is an airplane, you should get up and walk more often. If it is a vehicle, you should get off and walk regularly. On the one hand, it will help blood circulation, and on the other hand, it will reduce thrombophlebitis. risk. Arrange for family members to interact with them frequently, listen to their stories about the past, and pay attention to their emotional and physical conditions at all times. If they feel unwell, consider suspending the trip and prioritize the health of the elderly. International airports are equipped with transportation facilities for wheelchairs and people with disabilities. If necessary, you can request them from the airline.

In the accommodation part, try to arrange for the elderly’s closest and trusted family members to share the same room with them. By having familiar family members around, this can reduce the anxiety or insecurity caused by the unfamiliar environment. Pay attention to what happens at night. The path and lighting of the toilet can prevent the elderly from falling due to being unfamiliar with the environment. The temperature and humidity in the hotel room can be adjusted at any time. To avoid the room being too dry due to air conditioning, you can first fill the bathroom basin with water to increase the humidity. Indoor humidity, and prepare a glass of water on the table next to the elderly's bed to avoid getting out of bed to find water due to thirst.

When traveling abroad, special attention should be paid to the gastrointestinal adaptation of the elderly, avoid harmful foods, the diet should be light, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, eat less greasy, spicy and cold food, pay attention to the local Drinking water is available, avoid drinking raw water or roadside food, and maintain an appropriate amount of water.

Elderly people with dementia should also have the right to travel. The key point is that their families must make thorough plans and preparations, and prioritize the health, safety and emotional stability of the elderly.