I’m going to get a little personal with you today, because this one comes straight from my heart.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s a few years ago. We’ve experienced the grief, fear, and all of the things surrounding the question: What do we do now?
For our family, the answer was travel.
We Made a Decision Together
Once we started talking about it, our whole family got on board pretty quickly. We didn’t want to sit around focusing on what was being lost. We wanted to focus on what was still right in front of us. The early stages of Alzheimer’s are a window, and we decided we were going to make the most of it by traveling.
We said yes to the experiences. Yes to the adventures. Yes to being together in beautiful places while she could still fully enjoy every single moment of it.
The Moment I Will Never Forget
We took a Mediterranean cruise together recently, and one evening in Venice, we went to a Vivaldi strings concert inside an old cathedral right on the main channel. I’m talking candlelight, incredible music, the most stunning setting you can imagine.
And I looked over at my mother-in-law, and her face was just lit up.
I discreetly took pictures of her in that moment because I knew I never wanted to forget it. She was SO happy, present, and herself.
That is what a vacation together did for her. For all of us.
We also traveled to Antigua together previously, and there is something about being somewhere that beautiful that pulls everyone right into the present. Nobody is thinking about diagnoses or what’s coming next. You’re just watching a Caribbean sunset and laughing over dinner and feeling grateful for right now.
We also helped my mother-in-law and father-in-law take a dream trip through the British Isles, something they had always talked about doing someday. Helping them make that someday actually happen meant the world to our whole family.
Why the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Are the Time for Traveling
Here’s what I want every family in this situation to hear: in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, your loved one can still do so much and traveling is not out of the question at all. They can experience new places. They can be moved by beauty. They can laugh and connect and feel joy. Traveling with them now, while their Alzheimer’s is still manageable, is one of the greatest gifts you can give them and yourself.
And the memories you make together? Those belong to you forever, no matter what comes next.
A few things I have learned that can make all the difference:
Cruises are a wonderful option. Everything is in one place, the dining, the activities, the shore excursions. There is a built-in rhythm and structure to the days, which can feel really grounding and comforting.
Keep the focus on joy, not logistics. You do not need to go somewhere complicated. Simple and beautiful wins every single time.
Have someone handle the details for you. When all the planning is taken care of, you get to just be there. Fully present. That is the whole point.
Go now, not someday. I say this with so much love: there is no perfect time. The time is now, while they can take it all in and you can watch their face light up somewhere new.
Traveling with Alzheimer’s is possible. Our expert team can help.
At Your Vacation Plan, helping families travel through this season of life is something we feel truly called to do. We know firsthand what it means to sit in a candlelit cathedral in Venice and watch someone you love be completely, beautifully present. We want to help other families have their version of that moment.
If you have been wondering whether travel is still possible for your loved one, I want you to know that the answer is many times yes. And the meaning it can bring to your whole family is something you cannot put a price on.
If you are walking through this right now, I see you. It is hard. But please do not let a diagnosis be the thing that keeps you from living fully together while you can.
I would love to help you plan something truly special. Let’s talk about where you want to go.
Because time is precious. And there are still so many experiences you and your loved one can do.
Ready to start planning? Schedule a call with me today.
