With the holiday season upon us, traveling is likely top of mind for many individuals and their families. However, those caring for someone with dementia may be wondering if traveling is a realistic option. The good news is that taking a dementia-friendly trip, while ensuring your loved one’s safety, comfort and enjoyment, is possible. Steps to ease potential challenges when traveling include:

Consider your loved one’s abilities and safety. Discuss travel plans with their physician to determine if travel is recommended or safe. If it is, pick destinations that were familiar to your loved one before the onset of dementia and involve as few changes in their daily routine as possible. If your loved one is better in the morning, make morning activities a priority and do not overschedule the trip. Allow plenty of time for them to relax and acclimate to their surroundings. You may want to bring another person or two on the trip so that you, as the primary caregiver, can have a break and backup support if needed.

Determine the easiest mode of transportation. Once you select a location, identify a transportation option that will be most comfortable for your loved one and will cause the least amount of anxiety. If flying, travel at a less busy time of day, book a direct flight, and pay for aisle seats closer to the front of the plane with a little extra space and fewer distractions. Call the airline ahead of time to let them know you are traveling with someone with a disability and will need assistance expediting security lines and getting to the gate.

Ensure your loved one always has identification. Especially when traveling, persons with dementia should always have identification on them that cannot be taken off, like an Alzheimer’s safe return bracelet or medical bracelet. Do not depend on a wallet or phone as these items can be left behind or stolen. Take your loved one’s important information and documents with you, such as their doctors’ names and contact information, a list of their current medications and dosages, a list of their food or drug allergies, their health insurance information and a list of their emergency contacts.

Consider a trial-run trip close to home. See how your loved one does on a smaller scale first. Give some thought to the entire process of traveling, envisioning potential obstacles and worst-case scenarios — weather delays, longer lines or missed connections — and how you might deal with them. This can be a good test to see what may be stressful and could lead to more disorientation for your loved one. In addition, let them know about the trip ahead of time, bring books, magazines and games to keep them engaged and take frequent rest and bathroom breaks during the trip.

Traveling with a loved one with dementia can be challenging. However, with the proper preparation and mindset, family members can help make the experience, and your holiday memories, more enjoyable for everyone.

Editorial by Patricia Riley, board member of Alzheimers Coachella Valley, a community resource for dementia support and education. For more information, call (760) 776.3100 or visit www.cvalzheimers.org.