Navigating the journey: travelling with dementia

Jim loves to travel and experience different cultures but after a dementia diagnosis he’s had to make a few changes.

While Jim can still travel internationally, he does depend more on his husband Tyler for support.

In the travel episode of Dementia Australia’s Hold the Moment podcast Jim talks about how these changes have affected him.

“I’m more reliant on Ty when travelling now,” Jim said.

“I used to be very much at the forefront, going to check-in, etcetera. Those things tend to overwhelm me now, I just don’t feel as confident as I used to.”

The unfamiliar environments mean that it’s more comfortable for Jim to let Tyler lead the way.

“It’s hard to explain, I'm fine in places I'm familiar with, but somewhere new can sometimes feel a bit confusing,” Jim said.

“If I’ve got to learn something new too, like self check-in, I can’t seem to retain the information or store it which is frustrating to me.

“There’s a loss of spontaneity, you know when you want to just do something or head off somewhere on your own.

“It feels very organised and controlled when you’ve got to have someone pick you up or accompany you – it knocks your confidence a bit.”

Travelling tips and tricks

Before Juanita’s dementia diagnosis, driving was a normal part of her life.

But this changed when she was required to give up her driver's licence while living with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia.

“You lose your independence,” Juanita said.

“Instead of being able to do things when you want to do them you’ve got to plan it a week ahead or two weeks ahead. Not when you need it.”

While Juanita relies on help to get around locally, she’s worked out a smart way to travel in airports.

Using her Sunflower Lanyard, a symbol for non-visible disabilities, helps to alert airport staff that she may need extra assistance.

“What this lanyard says to those that are trained is that this person has a hidden disability, it doesn’t say what it is – but for those who need to help you, they need to know that you have a disability,” Juanita said.

Support for you

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, we are here to help support you.

Listen to the podcast: To hear how people living with dementia and their family members have managed travelling and getting around after a diagnosis, listen to Hold the Moment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can also listen to it on the Dementia Australia website.

Contact the National Dementia Helpline: If you would like support, advice or information about any type of dementia-related issue contact the National Dementia Helpline.

The National Dementia Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year on 1800 100 500 or via our live chat. 

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