I took my mother on some cruises when she was in a wheelchair. Also later when she was in a wheelchair and had early dementia. NO NO NO!
She wanted to get out of the wheelchair to stand at a show. She refused to sit. The ship started rolling, but she managed to maintain her footing. So, no broken hip as we approached Barbados was good.
People weren't courteous. You'd think people would be when they see a wheelchair, but they'd trample right over her to get on an elevator so they wouldn't miss their entertainment. There were three family members besides her, and it took all three to manage her issues. Also she got sick at sea and we had to take her to the medical office. They aren't well-equipped, to say the least.
There's a lot of sickness on cruise ships. I worked on them at various times. Norovirus, and some sort of coughing sickness that they never acknowledged though many on my deck had it. I got laryngitis from it and woke up at 2 a.m. to see men in hazmat suits scuttling in and out of a door to a machinery space. No one would tell me the problem.
Flu was common onboard because people fly in from all over the world for cruises that they've booked months in advance, and they figure it's just a little cold so they'll travel anyway. I saw a number of people marched off the ship dead, with the bereaved following. They go in a hearse to the closest funeral home and then there's flying the deceased back to the US or other home country. Dead.
Also Covid. It's not over. Ships are known for its spread.
There is a gentleman in my caregiver support group who takes his nonverbal wife who has Alzheimer's and has had it for many years on about 5 cruises a year. This is something they did together prior to her getting Alzheimer's, so she was/is very used to them. They use the same cruise line so the folks there are used to them and they all look out for his wife and treat them quite well.
I don't think that I could personally ever be brave enough to tackle such an adventure with a loved one with dementia, but I say kudos to those who do.
Like the others said it depends on how your LO reacts to new places. Also , do you want to go on a cruise ? Or are you just thinking about it because LO wants to go on a cruise ? Personally I would find a cruise too stressful . No way to cut the trip short of it’s not going well . How about a nice resort on land with restaurants on site?
I took my mom on a cruise when she was still in the mild cognitive impairment stage, maybe just slipping into mild dementia. It was fine. Since I was already handling everything, it was no difference. If your person is in pretty good shape with only mild symptoms, then I think it's doable.
Even if I had, I would only have experience with that one individual. With that person's level of functioning, behaviour, care needs. Also MY tolerance to providing care is my own.
Dementia varies wildly, from different types, different stages, different people. Caregivers differ too, ability, tolerance etc.
Dementia & crusing..
Who's the cruise for? What are the expectations?
Are the expectation on the person with dementia realistic? How do they handle new places? Change?
Are the expectation on the caregiver realistic?
An exit plan from a boat is tricky (if not impossible).
Even Wonder Woman had limits, knew she couldn't fly without an invisable jet.
Choose a holiday that sets the odds high for success eg A resort with everything on site. If it goes pear-shaped, you can head for home easier.
It’s a bad idea. My in-laws had a member of their cruise group bring her husband, who had dementia. The doctor suggested it, but the trip ended up being stressful for her. He kept wandering, and then would say how “she” kept getting lost!
I’ve only dealt with an aunt with Alzheimer’s, and from that limited experience I’d say taking her on a cruise would have been asking for misery for all involved. She’d have been out of her comfortable surroundings and the propensity she had to wander would have been truly frightening. Doesn’t sound like a vacation to me. I hope you’ll plan to go and have hubby safely in respite care at a place that can meet his needs. The cruise would be great for you
Just don't even attempt it. Your family member will be disoriented and will have to be watched like a hawk all the time. They may become distraught, and how will you handle that? Disembark? FLY home with a distraught Alzheimer's patient?
It's a sad reality, but when someone develops dementia of any kind, their world by necessity becomes very small. They need routines, familiar surroundings, and familiar faces. It doesn't mean that no one else can do things, but ideally someone takes care of the loved one at home while the others get a break.
She wanted to get out of the wheelchair to stand at a show. She refused to sit. The ship started rolling, but she managed to maintain her footing. So, no broken hip as we approached Barbados was good.
People weren't courteous. You'd think people would be when they see a wheelchair, but they'd trample right over her to get on an elevator so they wouldn't miss their entertainment. There were three family members besides her, and it took all three to manage her issues. Also she got sick at sea and we had to take her to the medical office. They aren't well-equipped, to say the least.
There's a lot of sickness on cruise ships. I worked on them at various times. Norovirus, and some sort of coughing sickness that they never acknowledged though many on my deck had it. I got laryngitis from it and woke up at 2 a.m. to see men in hazmat suits scuttling in and out of a door to a machinery space. No one would tell me the problem.
Flu was common onboard because people fly in from all over the world for cruises that they've booked months in advance, and they figure it's just a little cold so they'll travel anyway. I saw a number of people marched off the ship dead, with the bereaved following. They go in a hearse to the closest funeral home and then there's flying the deceased back to the US or other home country. Dead.
Also Covid. It's not over. Ships are known for its spread.
NO.
They use the same cruise line so the folks there are used to them and they all look out for his wife and treat them quite well.
I don't think that I could personally ever be brave enough to tackle such an adventure with a loved one with dementia, but I say kudos to those who do.
Personally I would find a cruise too stressful . No way to cut the trip short of it’s not going well . How about a nice resort on land with restaurants on site?
Even if I had, I would only have experience with that one individual. With that person's level of functioning, behaviour, care needs. Also MY tolerance to providing care is my own.
Dementia varies wildly, from different types, different stages, different people. Caregivers differ too, ability, tolerance etc.
Dementia & crusing..
Who's the cruise for?
What are the expectations?
Are the expectation on the person with dementia realistic? How do they handle new places? Change?
Are the expectation on the caregiver realistic?
An exit plan from a boat is tricky (if not impossible).
Even Wonder Woman had limits, knew she couldn't fly without an invisable jet.
Choose a holiday that sets the odds high for success eg A resort with everything on site. If it goes pear-shaped, you can head for home easier.
Secondly, it will have no positive impact on the one with dementia, most likely it would set them back as they need routine.
Just don't even attempt it. Your family member will be disoriented and will have to be watched like a hawk all the time. They may become distraught, and how will you handle that? Disembark? FLY home with a distraught Alzheimer's patient?
It's a sad reality, but when someone develops dementia of any kind, their world by necessity becomes very small. They need routines, familiar surroundings, and familiar faces. It doesn't mean that no one else can do things, but ideally someone takes care of the loved one at home while the others get a break.
Just...no.