I was wondering if anyone on this forum has experience with travelling (in a caravan) with a loved one with Dementia (moderate stage). I care for my wife, she appears to be getting worse but I would still like to travel in our caravan. I really don't want to have to sell our van as we have be caravanning for nearly 40 years and now we are both retired it seems so unfair that we may have to sell. I am just putting it out there in case I can get some real practical advice from people that have worked out strategies to handle this horrible disease and still have a life on the road.
-- Edited by davo48 on Saturday 23rd of December 2023 10:46:42 AM
-- Edited by davo48 on Saturday 23rd of December 2023 10:47:08 AM
Possum3 said
08:16 AM Dec 23, 2023
Only you, your wife and perhaps your Family can answer your query.
It may be that shorter trips to previously loved places may be beneficial to your wife's well being.
Whenarewethere said
08:44 AM Dec 23, 2023
Sorry to hear about dementia. We can't travel anymore, other half has dementia & is on dialysis. The dementia has been a decline in steps. All the hospital staff are great. I am full time carer & we are both totally self funded.
Keep the environment familiar & maybe short trips to places you have been to previously, but unfortunately prepare to change at short notice. It may just be easier at home. Make up photo albums of your travels. I have done this & it works well.
woolman said
09:00 AM Dec 23, 2023
My father took my mother on a trip to Europe when she was well into debenture. Was hard work with packing and unpacking but benifitial for mum.
I would think the caravan would be easier, especially if she is familiar with that life style.
Dad found using disabled toilets a better option as he could go in if required and not have mum locking the door and not being able to unlock.
Good luck and enjoy
Neil
davo48 said
10:45 AM Dec 23, 2023
thank you all for your feedback I really appreciate it.
Gaylehere said
04:46 PM Dec 23, 2023
I second Woolman about using disabled toilets and I will add showers too if you don't always use your own in the van. I have a friend with dementia and he gets disorientated very easily. He went for a walk and couldn't find his way back to their unit or remember it's correct name (they were on holidays). She had to go to the police station and report him as a missing person. Luckily someone saw him, realized something was wrong and also took him to a police station. Just last week he went to the toilet at the local shopping centre and came out of a different exit to where his wife was waiting for him and again got disorientated and couldn't find her. She had to contact security who found him. She had tried to call him on his mobile phone only to realize he had left it at home. If disorientation could be a problem, maybe a tracking device via mobile phone or something else , or maybe a medical alert bracelet with your phone number on it and the dementia word on it as well.
Dementia affects different people differently and only you know what your wife is capable of. Sorry I cannot be of any more help.
Wizardofoz said
06:08 AM Dec 27, 2023
I was full time carer for my wife and travelled for 5 years with her suffering from dementia....as I am an avid golfer, I played at every course in every tiwn that we stayed at, if they had electric carts, I took her with me. We had a great time for the 1st 4 years but on the last year she started wandering and getting lost in the parks, with people returning he back to me, at that stage, I didn't want to bother other people so gave caravanning up and bought a home in my favourite place of travel. I have to say, for the 1st 3 years it was absolutely terrific, people were wonderful with my wife and we were invited to all outings campsites and such. As she deteriorated and became incoherent, it was noticeable that we were not invited to get togethers anymore, which was sad, but we still had a good time, I golfed a lot less and had to spend all my time with her. It was on our 5th year, it changed and I made the decision to quit seel the van and buy a home to spend the rest of our days in. It all came to a head in Alice Springs when one morning my wife after having her shower went to the clothes lines and brought our clothes back (I did the washing), however, she also brought another ladies underwear back, a day or so later a rumour was circulating that there was a washing thief in the Park....as I folded and packed my wifes clothes, I realised that I hadn't recognised a couple of her underwear pieces, after enquiring, I found out who they belonged too, as I bought all my wifes clothes and washed them, I went through all the draws and cupboards and found all the foreign pieces and returned them to the lady in another caravan, I apologised and explained the situation but she wasn't accepting it she abused me and after checking the 4 or 5 item, that were hers, she yelled at me that her favourite Black bra was missing and demanded that I let her search my wifes draws and cupboards to find them. i refused and assured her that my wife did not have any black underwear, I bought everything and I have searched every draw and cupboard and these are the only items that are not hers and nothing black. She was still furious and gave me another serve until her husband interupted and asked her to ease up, he is being nice and his wife in not well, that didn't stop her aggression so I walked away, went to the office and explained the situation and asked to leave that day, we did. When we got back to our Sydney residence a couple months later, I put the van on the market and sold it...we enjoyed the next 4 years in the holiday town where paople were marvellous, the friends I made there were plentiful and their wifes minded my wife on the days that we fellows played golf, unfortunately, 3 years ago I had to place my into full time care and she passed away a couple months ago. At the end of the day, my advice is keep caravanning until the day comes when YOU know that it has to end, believe me, you will know...in the meantime. Life is to be lived and enjoyed by both of you. Just do it!!!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 27th of December 2023 06:17:28 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 27th of December 2023 07:44:32 AM
Plain Truth said
05:22 PM Dec 27, 2023
Thank you for your lovely post.
It must be very difficult situation to be in,seeing your loved one going through different stages of dementia.
Remember Engelbert Humperdinck his wife also suffered from dementia for 10 yrs. before she passed away.
He wrote a song previously called "Everywhere I go" which he dedicated to his wife.He sings it on tour in memory of his wife,so she is still with him.
So" keep on keeping on" till you know it is impossible to do so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2f5OVg7JRo
mischief said
11:07 AM Jan 1, 2024
It's difficult, a good diary with picks is great for now and after my husband
Farmhouse said
02:56 PM Jan 10, 2024
Very sorry to hear of your wife dementia problems, I have never been in your situation. My advise for what it is worth, travel until you feel the time to stop is right. Maybe using yellow post it notes around where she has the most problems with. I would also like to suggest that she have some form identification in case she goes for a wander.
Good luck and happy, safe travels.
Glenn
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:56:47 PM
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:57:03 PM
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:57:35 PM
I was wondering if anyone on this forum has experience with travelling (in a caravan) with a loved one with Dementia (moderate stage). I care for my wife, she appears to be getting worse but I would still like to travel in our caravan. I really don't want to have to sell our van as we have be caravanning for nearly 40 years and now we are both retired it seems so unfair that we may have to sell. I am just putting it out there in case I can get some real practical advice from people that have worked out strategies to handle this horrible disease and still have a life on the road.
-- Edited by davo48 on Saturday 23rd of December 2023 10:46:42 AM
-- Edited by davo48 on Saturday 23rd of December 2023 10:47:08 AM
It may be that shorter trips to previously loved places may be beneficial to your wife's well being.
Sorry to hear about dementia. We can't travel anymore, other half has dementia & is on dialysis. The dementia has been a decline in steps. All the hospital staff are great. I am full time carer & we are both totally self funded.
Keep the environment familiar & maybe short trips to places you have been to previously, but unfortunately prepare to change at short notice. It may just be easier at home. Make up photo albums of your travels. I have done this & it works well.
My father took my mother on a trip to Europe when she was well into debenture. Was hard work with packing and unpacking but benifitial for mum.
I would think the caravan would be easier, especially if she is familiar with that life style.
Dad found using disabled toilets a better option as he could go in if required and not have mum locking the door and not being able to unlock.
Good luck and enjoy
Neil
Dementia affects different people differently and only you know what your wife is capable of. Sorry I cannot be of any more help.
I was full time carer for my wife and travelled for 5 years with her suffering from dementia....as I am an avid golfer, I played at every course in every tiwn that we stayed at, if they had electric carts, I took her with me. We had a great time for the 1st 4 years but on the last year she started wandering and getting lost in the parks, with people returning he back to me, at that stage, I didn't want to bother other people so gave caravanning up and bought a home in my favourite place of travel.
I have to say, for the 1st 3 years it was absolutely terrific, people were wonderful with my wife and we were invited to all outings campsites and such. As she deteriorated and became incoherent, it was noticeable that we were not invited to get togethers anymore, which was sad, but we still had a good time, I golfed a lot less and had to spend all my time with her.
It was on our 5th year, it changed and I made the decision to quit seel the van and buy a home to spend the rest of our days in. It all came to a head in Alice Springs when one morning my wife after having her shower went to the clothes lines and brought our clothes back (I did the washing), however, she also brought another ladies underwear back, a day or so later a rumour was circulating that there was a washing thief in the Park....as I folded and packed my wifes clothes, I realised that I hadn't recognised a couple of her underwear pieces, after enquiring, I found out who they belonged too, as I bought all my wifes clothes and washed them, I went through all the draws and cupboards and found all the foreign pieces and returned them to the lady in another caravan, I apologised and explained the situation but she wasn't accepting it she abused me and after checking the 4 or 5 item, that were hers, she yelled at me that her favourite Black bra was missing and demanded that I let her search my wifes draws and cupboards to find them. i refused and assured her that my wife did not have any black underwear, I bought everything and I have searched every draw and cupboard and these are the only items that are not hers and nothing black. She was still furious and gave me another serve until her husband interupted and asked her to ease up, he is being nice and his wife in not well, that didn't stop her aggression so I walked away, went to the office and explained the situation and asked to leave that day, we did.
When we got back to our Sydney residence a couple months later, I put the van on the market and sold it...we enjoyed the next 4 years in the holiday town where paople were marvellous, the friends I made there were plentiful and their wifes minded my wife on the days that we fellows played golf, unfortunately, 3 years ago I had to place my into full time care and she passed away a couple months ago.
At the end of the day, my advice is keep caravanning until the day comes when YOU know that it has to end, believe me, you will know...in the meantime. Life is to be lived and enjoyed by both of you.
Just do it!!!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 27th of December 2023 06:17:28 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 27th of December 2023 07:44:32 AM
Thank you for your lovely post.
It must be very difficult situation to be in,seeing your loved one going through different stages of dementia.
Remember Engelbert Humperdinck his wife also suffered from dementia for 10 yrs. before she passed away.
He wrote a song previously called "Everywhere I go" which he dedicated to his wife.He sings it on tour in memory of his wife,so she is still with him.
So" keep on keeping on" till you know it is impossible to do so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2f5OVg7JRo
Very sorry to hear of your wife dementia problems, I have never been in your situation. My advise for what it is worth, travel until you feel the time to stop is right. Maybe using yellow post it notes around where she has the most problems with. I would also like to suggest that she have some form identification in case she goes for a wander.
Good luck and happy, safe travels.
Glenn
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:56:47 PM
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:57:03 PM
-- Edited by Farmhouse on Wednesday 10th of January 2024 02:57:35 PM