HOLIDAYING WITH A FORGETFUL

PARENT

Keep your parent’s essential paperwork (tickets, boarding cards, passport etc) with you when travelling. It can help if one capable adult holds the entire family’s paperwork, so that your parent doesn’t feel singled

out or patronised.

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Don’t make assumptions – discuss finances with your parent and spouse, before you depart. Who is paying for Nanny’s flight, accommodation, meals? Are you going Dutch? Are you treating her?

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Many people with dementia or Alzheimer’s experience triggers that cause anxiety. Think how this may translate in your new setting and plan how to mitigate such triggers. In our case Mary gets

disproportionately anxious if she doesn’t have small sums of cash at

her disposal, so we ensured we had small notes for her purse so

she felt in control.

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Thank your spouse and pull your weight. A thank

you, a hug and taking turns at chores goes a long way. If your partner feels like a hired help on holiday, it will never

happen again.

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Err on the side of caution. A loving grandparent with Alzheimer’s may have the adult capability to open a

patio door for eager grandchildren, but forget

to monitor the pool. Remember that children

can be surprisingly helpful. Our five-year-old

navigated his nanny around the villa several

times a day.

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Leave a light on in the lavatory overnight so everyone can find it

independently.

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Expect facepalm moments. When we asked Nanny to unpack, once

back in London, she claimed she hadn’t been

anywhere.