Helpline: Tips for getting around with dementia

If you’re looking for new ways to get around town or travel further afield with a dementia diagnosis, this episode is full of tips and resources on how you can do just that.  

If you’d like tailored support on travelling with dementia, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind. You can also find some information here. 

In this episode you'll hear about a Dementia Australia webinar on driving and dementia – you can watch it here.   

If you want to learn more on getting around with dementia, listen to this episode of Hold the Moment.

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Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios.  

Follow Dementia Australia on Facebook and Instagram and find support resources online. 

This episode was hosted by Jim Rogers and Kristin, a National Dementia Helpline Advisor. This episode was produced by Luci McAfee. The executive producers are Grace Pashley and Kellie Riordan.  

The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government.  

Dementia Australia and Deadset Studios acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. 

Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative. 

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
- There's somethingspecial about travelling.
Experiencing a whole new world
with different sights, sounds and smells,
but since my diagnosis ofyounger-onset Alzheimer's,
finding my way aroundairports and train stations
is a challenge.
And then, there's also thedilemma of getting around town
if you've lost your driver's licence too.

(00:26):
I'm Jim Rogers, andthis is Hold the Moment,
a podcast from Dementia Australia.
You can listen to ourfull episode on travelling
in your podcast app right now.
Maybe have a friend or family member
help you access the episode if you need.
This is a bonus episode to help with tips
on how to get around town or take a trip.

(00:47):
You can get advice from theNational Dementia Helpline
24-hours a day, any day of the year.
- I'm Kristin, an advisor onthe National Dementia Helpline.
When you call us, you'llspeak to someone like me.
It can be frustratingcoming up with new routines
when you've been diagnosed with dementia,

(01:08):
because you might remember a time
when you could justdecide to go to the shops
and grab everything onyour way out the door.
It might take a little more planning now.
You might need to book the taxi in advance
for the time that youwant to be picked up,
and if there's a timeof day where you know
that you can better organise yourself,
that might be a good time toput the bags by the front door,

(01:30):
you might put your grocerylist in your shoes so that
you really find it easierto take things with you.
One other trick is to keep things visible,
so if you keep your grab bags in a place
where you're likely tosee them on your way,
you're more likely to grab them as you go.
If you're no longer able to drive

(01:53):
after a diagnosis of dementia,
it can feel like you've losta piece of your identity,
a piece of your spontaneity,
and there's a grief involved with that.
There's also the importantpart of being out
in the community, havingyour independence,
being able to still engage inthe things that you want to do
In order to do that, you mightneed to make other plans.

(02:16):
At Dementia Australia, we'vegot a webinar that talks about
the impact of not beingable to drive anymore,
and that's something that youcould check out on our website
and get some further ideas for ways to get
where you want to go and dothe things that you want to do.
Even if you are not the one that's able
to drive yourself there.

(02:38):
It's really importantthat you're still able
to get out into the community,
and one of those ways mightbe using public transport.
If using public transport is something
that you do regularly,
you may have already built a relationship
with the bus driver,
or you may regularly askfor the same taxi driver
to help you get around.

(02:59):
Those are great strategies for being able
to give you confidence innavigating public transport.
If you're going to be going someplace new,
it might be helpful to trythe route a couple of times
with a friend or familymember that you trust.
It might be helpful to print off a map
or a list of the stops.

(03:19):
It might also be helpfulto plot ahead of time.
If you do get lost, how will you get back
to where you're going?
Things always happen on public transport.
You might get off at the wrong stop,
or not quite be sure of what's going on,
you can always ask for help.
Look for someone in a transportuniform or a high-vis vest,

(03:40):
and just let them know you're not sure
about what's going on.
People are always willing tohelp, you just have to ask.
If air travel is somethingthat you're used to
and familiar with, it might be quite easy
to consider planning the trip.
If this is your firsttime travelling by air,

(04:01):
it might be helpful tohave a travel companion
come along with you.
Some things to consider whenyou're travelling in an airport
is the time of day that you travel.
You might have a time ofday that's better for you,
where you're feeling more confident
in navigating new situations.
It might also be that theairport you're going to

(04:22):
has a time of day that's a little quieter.
Many airlines and someairports do offer services
such as greeting you, evenat the door, to be able to
help you navigate through the airport.
If that's something you thinkwould be helpful for you,
reach out to the airlineor the airport to find out
if that's something they offer.

(04:45):
It can be helpful to bring the tools
that you use in yourday-to-day life with you
along on your travels to helpyou navigate a new situation.
If there are things that makeyou feel comfortable at home,
a familiar pillowcase or awatch that always works for you,
you want to make sure that you pack those.

(05:05):
If you use a nightlightto help you navigate
to the bathroom at night, ifyou leave doors propped open,
you might want to pack a nightlight
or a door stop to help youcontinue to use the tools
that you do at home whileyou're out on an adventure.
If you've got any questions
or you'd like support inmaking plans for travelling,

(05:27):
you can contact theNational Dementia Helpline
on 1800 100 500.
You'll get to speak to anadvisor, someone like me.
We're here 24-hours a day,every day of the year.