Traveling With Dementia: 12 Things We Learned the Hard Way

Traveling with dementia can feel overwhelming, but a little preparation can make the journey safer, calmer, and more manageable for everyone involved.

The first time we traveled with my dad after his dementia progressed, we were terrified.

Not because of the flight itself.

We were worried about everything else.

What if he got confused? What if he wandered away? What if he became anxious? What if we needed help? How would we explain to strangers that he had dementia?

If you've ever traveled or gone out in public with someone living with dementia, you probably know that feeling. You spend more time planning for the trip than enjoying it.

Over the years, we learned that traveling with dementia isn't about creating the perfect plan. It's about removing as many obstacles as possible before they happen.

The good news is that awareness is growing. Organizations like Dementia Friendly America and programs such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program are helping public spaces become more accommodating for families like ours.

We're not all the way there yet, but things are improving.

These are twelve things I wish someone had told us before we started.

Before You Leave Home

1. Ask for Accommodations Early

One mistake many caregivers make is waiting until they need help before asking for it.

Most airports and airlines offer services such as wheelchair assistance, priority boarding, transportation between gates, accessibility services, and help navigating the airport.

These resources exist for a reason.

Using them doesn't mean you've failed. It means you're making the journey easier and safer for everyone involved.

Whenever possible, contact the airline ahead of time and ask what accommodations are available.

2. Look Into the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program

One of the best resources many families have never heard of is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.

The sunflower symbol discreetly signals that a person may have a non-visible disability and could benefit from extra patience, support, or understanding.

Many airports, transportation hubs, and public venues participate. You can check whether your airport participates before your trip, or simply visit the airport information desk and ask.

Many locations offer sunflower lanyards, cards, or pins. In some cases, families may also be offered expedited security screening, escorts, or additional support navigating the airport.

3. Consider a GPS Tracker

One of the realities of dementia is that wandering can happen unexpectedly.

Unfamiliar environments increase confusion, and even a brief moment of distraction can become stressful.

With my dad, we used a combination of a Road ID bracelet and a Tile tracker. This was back in the 2010s before many of today's options existed.

Today there are far more choices, including Apple AirTags, GPS watches, medical alert bracelets, and dedicated dementia tracking devices.

Whatever option you choose, I recommend looking for something that is waterproof, comfortable enough to wear daily, easy for you to remove, and more difficult for your loved one to remove unintentionally.

Hopefully you'll never need it. But if you do, you'll be incredibly grateful it's there.

4. Make It Easy to Spot Each Other

This sounds simple, but it works.

Consider having everyone in your group wear the same color shirt, matching hats, or another easily identifiable item.

This can even become a fun family tradition.

Large airports, tourist attractions, shopping centers, and sporting events can become crowded quickly. Anything that helps you identify one another faster reduces stress.

5. Carry Important Information With You

Consider keeping a card in a wallet, pocket, purse, or lanyard that includes their name, emergency contacts, medical conditions, medications, hotel information, and a statement that the person is living with dementia.

If your loved one becomes confused and someone is trying to help, this information can be invaluable.

6. Take a Photo Before Leaving

Before heading out for the day, take a quick photo of your loved one.

Not only will you have a current picture available if they become separated from you, but you'll also have a record of exactly what they were wearing.

It's a small habit that takes seconds and could save valuable time in an emergency.

7. Build More Time Into Everything

Then add a little more.

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is removing the pressure of rushing.

Dementia often affects processing speed, decision-making, and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments.

Arriving early creates space for delays, unexpected situations, and moments when your loved one simply needs a break.

Once You Arrive at the Airport

8. Find Quiet & Sensory Rooms

Airports can be incredibly overwhelming for someone living with dementia.

Bright lights. Crowds. Constant announcements. Security lines. Delays. Thousands of people moving in every direction.

Many airports now offer sensory rooms, quiet rooms, meditation rooms, or other low-stimulation spaces designed to help travelers decompress.

Before your trip, take a few minutes to Google "[Airport Name] sensory room" or "[Airport Name] quiet room."

You may be surprised by what's available.

Hopefully you'll never need it. But if your loved one becomes overwhelmed, anxious, or overstimulated, knowing where these spaces are ahead of time can make a tremendous difference.

9. Use Airport Lounges If You Have Access

This is one of my favorite travel hacks for caregivers.

If you have access through airline status, a credit card, a day pass, or a family member's membership, airport lounges can provide a much-needed break from the chaos of the terminal.

Most lounges offer quieter environments, more comfortable seating, cleaner restrooms, complimentary food and drinks, and fewer crowds.

For someone living with dementia, reducing the amount of sensory stimulation can be incredibly helpful.

For caregivers, it can feel like a brief moment of respite in what is often a very stressful day.

Some of the best breaks we had while traveling weren't at our destination—they were in a quiet corner of an airport lounge between flights.

10. Use Family Bathrooms and Locate Them Early

One of the first things I do in any unfamiliar place is identify family bathrooms, standard restrooms, quiet spaces, customer service desks, seating areas, and exits.

When someone is overwhelmed, anxious, tired, or urgently needs a restroom, you don't want to be figuring it out in the moment.

Family bathrooms became one of our favorite travel discoveries.

They're larger, private, and often much calmer than traditional airport restrooms.

If incontinence products, clothing changes, mobility challenges, or caregiving assistance are part of your reality, family restrooms can make a tremendous difference.

They can also provide a quiet place to regroup when things become overwhelming.

11. Use Communication Cards

One of the hardest parts of dementia is constantly having to explain what's happening.

Communication cards allow you to discreetly hand someone a card explaining that your loved one is living with dementia and may need additional patience, understanding, or assistance.

They're particularly helpful during security screenings, medical appointments, restaurants, retail stores, public transportation, and customer service interactions.

Sometimes it's simply easier than having the same conversation over and over again.

During the Trip

12. Have an Exit Strategy

One lesson caregiving taught me is that not every outing needs to be completed.

Before attending an event, ask yourself:

• Where can we go if they become overwhelmed?
• Is there a quiet place nearby?
• Who will leave if necessary?
• What's our backup plan?

Sometimes the most successful outing is the one where you recognize it's time to go home.

These Tips Aren't Just for Air Travel

Although we often talk about flying, these strategies apply almost anywhere:

• Doctor appointments
• Restaurants
• Shopping centers
• Family gatherings
• Sporting events
• Museums
• Community events

Any unfamiliar environment can create challenges for someone living with dementia.

The more support and preparation you have, the more confident you'll feel navigating those situations.

Final Thoughts

One of the hardest parts of dementia is watching someone's world gradually become smaller.

Places that once felt familiar can become overwhelming. Activities that used to be second nature can start to feel impossible. Over time, many families find themselves staying home more and more because it's simply easier.

I understand that feeling.

But I also know that some of my favorite memories with my dad happened because we decided to go anyway.

Not because everything went perfectly. Not because we had every answer. But because we planned ahead, adapted when we needed to, and focused on spending time together.

The reality is that no amount of preparation will eliminate every challenge. Dementia is unpredictable.

What preparation can do is help you feel more confident, reduce unnecessary stress, and make it easier to say "yes" to experiences that might otherwise feel too overwhelming.

Whether you're flying across the country, attending a family wedding, going to a doctor's appointment, or simply spending an afternoon out together, I hope these tips help make the journey a little easier.