My loved one has dementia. How can I make it easier to take them on outings?

Posted: January 16, 2017, 1:35PM

People in the eariler stages of dementia may still enjoy going to restaurants, the park, shopping or other outings. If they are comfortable going out and if you're comfortable - keep going! But put some thought into the outings and make some arrangements before you go.

Schedule the outing for the best time of day for your loved one.

Don't make the outing too long. Be observant for signs that your loved one is getting tired or overwhelmed, and go home before they become overwhelmed.

You may want to use a card to tell others about your loved one's disease. You can share the information with restaurant servers or store personnel. You may want the card to say "My family member has Alzheimer's disease. They may say or do things that are unusual or they may need some extra help. Thank you for understanding."

Going to a restaurant:

If you're going out to eat, think about the restaurant and the layout, the menu, the noise level, waiting times and the helpfulness of the servers. Is the service quick? How accessible are the rest rooms? Does your loved one like the foods on the menu? Think about the day of the week. You may want to avoid the busier times like lunch and dinner hours. Ask for a table that is in a quieter section. Do you need seated near the rest room? Can your loved one choose from the menu? Help them by suggesting limited choices of foods that your loved one likes. Show them pictures of the food from the menu.

Going shopping:

Think about when you're going. Weekends may be busier that week days. What about clothing items? Are they easy to get on and off? Be sure to dress your loved one so clothes can be tried on easily, or take the items home to try on when there is less activity and stimulation. Dressing rooms can be small and intimidating to someone with dementia.

General information:

Think about things you'll need for your outing before you leave home, and gather them them in a tote. You may want to include wipes, a towel, an activity book, or finger foods. You may want to keep a change of clothes in the car in case of an accidental mess.

Sometimes just going for a ride is a good outing and activity but be sure your loved one is safelty buckled in and keep the child locks on. One family told me that their loved one tried to get out of the car as they were driving on interstate.

Keep safety in mind. Also consider the stimulation level of the outing. Will your loved one be afraid or overwhelmed?

We all like to get out but we need to work out the details and tailor them to our loved ones. Everyone with dementia is different so be attuned to your family member's needs and coping abilities.