Travelling with someone with dementia

Whether it’s a holiday or a simple trip to the local shops, when travelling with someone who has dementia, it’s important to prioritise safety. 

1. One helpful tip is to coordinate outfits so that you can easily spot each other in a crowd. 
2. It’s also a good idea to make sure the person you’re caring for has an identifier like a GPS unit or cell phone. 
3. Position yourself slightly behind the person when walking together to avoid them getting disoriented or losing sight of you. 
4. If you need to use public restrooms, try to find ones that can accommodate both of you or opt for family bathrooms if available. 
5. Another helpful resource to consider is the Sunflower program (more below). By participating in this program, you can signal to others that you or your loved one may need assistance or guidance. This program is becoming internationally available, making travel a little safer for those with hidden disabilities.

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program?

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for you or a loved one to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.

Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it is not there.

Globally 1 in 7 of us live with a disability. That is approximately 1.3 billion people.

But while some of us experience a disability that is visible, many have a non-visible condition or experience a combination of both visible and non-visible conditions. These disabilities can be temporary, situational or permanent. They can be neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and include sensory and processing difficulties. They can also be respiratory as well as chronic health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain and sleep disorders.

Making the invisible visible

As diverse as these conditions are, so are your individual access needs and the barriers you face in your daily life. So you can opt to wear the Sunflower to discreetly be seen in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.