"Vacation" is all you ever wanted...

Well, you are now wanting to live in the moment, right? Get that time in, do things together, spend quality time? How does it look? We have been vacationing a few times a year for the last 3 years and I have some advice.

Prepare and Plan are the biggest things. Your loved one is very comfortable in their own environment, they have good routines, etc. When you change their routine there will be some havoc, and you also need to be ready for that. Be ready for some frustration, some crankiness and some mild depression (when loved one realizes (possibly) what they are really not able to do outside of their environment). I would not suggest trying any NEW activity they have no muscle memory for, no zip lining, no scuba diving or individual sports.

So we will start with the basics-

1. Can you do the same sleep and eat routine on vacation- Keep the spouse/LO in their time zone if you can. Let them NAP, and do not overbook adventures because you are going stir crazy! Remember- their routine keeps them happy or at least in a comfortable space. So Judge Wapner at 7pm and fish sticks? Than check your time zone and make sure you can do that there to. Mine likes protein shakes, nuts for snacks at hand, bars etc. I make sure to pack enough on the plane and in luggage in case we cannot get to a store quick enough. Food is a good regulator of blood sugar and mood IMO, so we have protein always ready for him (he is not diabetic, it is just what we are used to)

2. CAR- Have snacks, bathroom breaks, food planned out in the trip and be patient. I also use car trips as a memory lane game to see where he is. "Remember when we went to the mountains?" it was so much fun, what did you like best.

3. FLIGHTS- Notify TSA when going through and notify flight attendant. One word, anti anxiety pill- he has prescribed one to use as needed, half of it is a miracle to fly with for him. TSA cares is a great resource, you need to do this in advance for airport travel. I also put him on the aisle, he has to pee alot. If you are planning on traveling often- I recommend getting TSA precheck for both of you, no shoes/jacket, and taking out items that can be lost. Most travel credit cards (AMEX and Chase) refund the price if you charge on their card for one a year. Another flight trauma is the noise, I have the Beats ,they are wireless have noise cancelling and they hook up with the cell phone for music/pod cast and have an adapter that lets them hook into in flight system when available. Here is an inexpensive just noise reducing ones https://amzn.to/4bYJLN7. The bustle and noise of a plane and crying kids made my spouse very irritable so I highly recommend removing that distraction for peace.

4. CRUISE- When booking follow the process for "handicap/disability", they will add the issue to their cruise records, and you will be escorted on with help and sometimes allowed in your room earlier. I also printed on a piece of paper whoever had "cruise internet" cell phone, his name, disease, floor number and room number to carry on a lanyard with his ship card. I also got my spouse cruise internet so we can text each other just in case, plus Judge Wapner at 7pm, he can continue his routine he likes with it.

5. Cruise Rooms, Guest Rooms, Hotel Rooms and AirBNB- Inspect the doors and windows. Can they accidently go somewhere? Let me tell you about the time, mine walked out the cruise ship suite door to the hallway in his underwear to go bathroom....not to scare you, but yes this can happen. So now, I take our empty luggage and put it in front of door leaving room, so it will make noise to get out and we have one of these door wedge alarms https://amzn.to/43UJ3i3. I also make sure any other door, balcony etc., is not accessible. Night Lights for bathroom https://amzn.to/43UJ3i3 and leaving the bathroom door open is also now a necessity. They have to go at night, make sure they can find it. You have taken them from their routine, now you need to lead them to a new one, and we know learning new things is not really an option, so you need to make it "like a moth to a flame". I also sleep on the side I will notice them getting up.

6. ID Bracelet- Do you have an ID bracelet on your loved one? It is time to get them used to one. We have this one https://amzn.to/43UJ3i3. It is customizable, and on it, we have NAME, Alzheimer's and Aphasia, Spouse Phone, Child Phone, and back has our home address. My hubby loves wearing his. He has two (he lost one for a few months we found in the couch) and he won't leave home without it. When we are at restaurants or if he is struggling with words, he just shows his bracelet, and win/win, he gets helped with care.

7. Personal Travel Bag- My guy likes his "stuff" so I got a "man bag" he calls it his murse. https://amzn.to/43UJ3i3 There are a lot out there, but I make sure it can hold his phone, a charger, ChapStick, a bar, his pills, toothpicks and cash. I also have a note in it, with my information, again, in case we get separated. FYI, i always take his full containers of pills, not the travel thing, so I am also clear and anyone else is in case of emergency.

Now the nitty gritty- does your spouse have physical limits? Do they have anxiety? These are also big considerations with planning. We like to hike and bike, so hiking vacations with just us two have been wonderful. Not perfect, let me tell you what effected it so you can avoid. One night in Nashville, he did not take his Aricept, without it he was terribly aggressive and irritable in the AM. So if they are independently taking their medicine, on vacation I would recommend watching the pills be taken on time and set your alarms to check. Next example is we are avid snorkel beach goers, husband was a master diver. I planned a cruise excursion with diving, we got out to the open water and he did not want to get in. It's ok, just roll with it, don't be mad, he loved watching my daughter and I enjoy the swim. Not all days are good days, so I only planned cheaper excursions for next trip so he had the choice to chill if he wanted, and we paid to do other things as options. Every day is new sometimes, so prepare, and do not react, it will only make it worse.

Cold/Flu bag, I have one prepared- Advil, Dayquil, Nightquil, Boom Sticks, Co Vid test. I take with us now, never did before, but he is not as good with hand washing/Santi no matter what so it's better safe than sorry to have some cold supplies.

I may add more here, but the best advice I can give is lower your expectations and do not over plan. Your life is extremely different now, and you need the patience of a saint to maneuver this trip, and I cannot say it will be amazing, and I won't say it will be terrible, but each trip has had a few hiccups and we have learned from them.

"Vacation" Go Go's