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.
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’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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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