More than 44 million people worldwide suffer from a dementia-related diagnosis, and Jan Dougherty recently outlined tips for caring for seniors diagnosed with dementia when traveling. Jan Dougherty is a nurse, leader, innovator, and noted dementia care expert with over 30 years of clinical experience. Many of her programs are used nationally. She is a speaker and author on numerous topics of dementia. With Dougherty’s awareness, the travel industry, families, and travel companions can join together to ensure safety and successful travels, even for individuals with memory loss. Recently, Dougherty’s professional tips were highlighted on the Alzheimer’s Speaks YouTube talk show.
Why Is This Traveling With Dementia Youtube Interview Important?
There are over 400 different types of dementia, according to dementia awareness organization, Understand Together. In America, 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 has dementia and each dementia case has a different experience of symptoms. The typical life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis is 4-to-8 years, which currently affects over 5 million Americans. As a result, these seniors are in need of assisted living, with an emphasis on memory care. It is especially important to keep travel memories alive while seniors are socially distancing, unable to travel due to medical instructions or being shut in during COVID-19.
Timeless Travel Moments
Dougherty is the author of a new innovative book titled, “Travel Well with Dementia: Essential Tips to Enjoy the Journey.” Together, with YouTube host and founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, Lori La Bey, they are helping the industry shift dementia care from crisis to comfort. Lori La Bey uses each episode to raise added awareness, and her interview with Dougherty was especially unique. They discussed how to keep travel and it’s memories alive while shut down due to the Coronavirus. Dougherty’s new-aged ideas and unique resources offer need-to-know travel information for senior caregivers.
Why Doughert’s Book Is Essential To Memory Care
Travel Well with Dementia: Essential Tips to Enjoy the Journey is changing how residential assisted living is using previous travel experiences to create new memories. Seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can still enjoy traveling. Dougherty’s book best illustrates how individuals can still travel well with dementia. The book is a must-read for owners, operators, managers and caregivers of residential assisted living homes. Loved ones can also benefit from Dougherty’s new book. Whether visiting family and friends or venturing to a new location for fun, the book is packed with practical tips and strategies. Dougherty is helping seniors with dementia to find confidence in the ability to stay engaged with the people and places that matter to them. Even with dementia or Alzheimer’s, seniors should continue to create new memories – this is an important process when assisting seniors with memory loss.
Fun Doesn’t Stop With A Dementia Diagnosis
This is the first book of its kind that considers what people living with dementia may experience during travel. It may be difficult to imagine having fun with dementia. However, Travel Well with Dementia: Essential Tips to Enjoy the Journey walks readers through the process of experiencing a successful trip when caring for loved ones, patients and residents. The book helps travel companions know what to expect before, during, and after a trip to best support seniors with memory loss. It doesn’t matter if a senior is experiencing early or late stages of a diagnosis, the path of progression doesn’t dictate the fun seniors can share while traveling. These experiences may often require preparation and adaptations for safe travel, but traveling remains possible. Dougherty’s new book, YouTube talk show appearance, (INSERT YOUTUBE LINK HERE), and innovative approach for caring for seniors with memory loss enriches lives. Seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s are able to experience joy, purpose and meaningful lives when Dougherty’s innovative practices are employed.
Speaking Out For Seniors In Assisted Living
The Residential Assisted Living National Association provides information, resources and support for RAL owners, operators and staff. RALNA provides the kind of support that empowers the residential assisted living industry the ability to administer quality senior care. Visit: www.RALNA.org to learn more. RALNA advocates for residential assisted living business owners and operators supporting them with legal expertise, continued education, national marketing, group purchasing power and a continual positive voice for the industry.
