That sounds like an excellent journey! Take a lot of pictures. She will enjoy seeing it all again, even if she doesn't actually remember it.
Take the legal documents with you -- POA, health care directive. Also take a list of all medications she uses, including otc (sounds like that will be short list.)
I assume you will be with her all the time -- going to the bathroom, at meals, on all the shore excursions, etc. My husband and I went on a couple of cruises after his dementia diagnosis. You'll have the advantage of being able to go into the bathroom together! I sent word to the kitchen that he was to have smaller portion for each meal. The generous serving sizes seemed overwhelming to him. I also quietly told the waiter each time "half portion for him, please." It worked very well. He really liked going to the afternoon tea, more for the ambiance and the experience than for the food. And he loved the breakfast buffet, filling his plate with fruit and eating it all. If your mother finds something she particularly likes let her repeat it as often as she can.
Our first cruise (before dementia) was on a small ship and my alumni group made up half the passengers. One of my classmates was there with two sisters and their mother. The mother became very ill and we made an unscheduled port call where we were met by an ambulance for her. One daughter accompanied her. The mother died. The daughter managed to join the cruise again after a few days. The story was that Mother had cancer but was in remission when they all signed up for this final family cruise. She was not well at cruise time but wanted to go ahead with it any way. A brother was prepared to care for Mom if she had to leave the ship, and he went ahead with the plans they had made for this eventuality. The sisters finished the cruise. I thought the whole thing was wonderful! I would like to do enjoyable things right up to the end if I'm capable. There are worse things than dying on a cruise!
Planning to bring my mom who is 90 years old who also lives with me, for a 10 day trip - with a 7 day Alaskan cruise Other than needing a walker to go around she is physically healthy. She is also aware of what is happening at the moment but may forget it afterwards yes, there is dementia Taking medication only for appetite enhancement Just visited with PMD yesterday and asked his opinion, gave the thumbs up
Take the legal documents with you -- POA, health care directive. Also take a list of all medications she uses, including otc (sounds like that will be short list.)
I assume you will be with her all the time -- going to the bathroom, at meals, on all the shore excursions, etc. My husband and I went on a couple of cruises after his dementia diagnosis. You'll have the advantage of being able to go into the bathroom together! I sent word to the kitchen that he was to have smaller portion for each meal. The generous serving sizes seemed overwhelming to him. I also quietly told the waiter each time "half portion for him, please." It worked very well. He really liked going to the afternoon tea, more for the ambiance and the experience than for the food. And he loved the breakfast buffet, filling his plate with fruit and eating it all. If your mother finds something she particularly likes let her repeat it as often as she can.
Our first cruise (before dementia) was on a small ship and my alumni group made up half the passengers. One of my classmates was there with two sisters and their mother. The mother became very ill and we made an unscheduled port call where we were met by an ambulance for her. One daughter accompanied her. The mother died. The daughter managed to join the cruise again after a few days. The story was that Mother had cancer but was in remission when they all signed up for this final family cruise. She was not well at cruise time but wanted to go ahead with it any way. A brother was prepared to care for Mom if she had to leave the ship, and he went ahead with the plans they had made for this eventuality. The sisters finished the cruise. I thought the whole thing was wonderful! I would like to do enjoyable things right up to the end if I'm capable. There are worse things than dying on a cruise!
I wish you and your mother bon voyage!
Other than needing a walker to go around she is physically healthy. She is also aware of what is happening at the moment but may forget it afterwards yes, there is dementia
Taking medication only for appetite enhancement
Just visited with PMD yesterday and asked his opinion, gave the thumbs up
What sort of journey?