5 criteria for dementia-friendly hotels

Feeling stuck at home? Here’s a guide to dementia-friendly travel with your loved one. You can do it!

This article is a re-post from Alzlive.com. Check them out for more travel tips and information on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Do your pre-trip sleuthing to ensure your lodgings are safe and sound for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Not all hotel rooms are created equal! Here are five features to look for or request when booking travel in the United States, Canada or even further afield, if you are adventurous. These amenities provide a safer, better home-sweet-home experience for patients and caregivers.

1 GENEROUS ROOM DIMENSIONS

When searching online, check room descriptions for actual dimensions: photos can be misleading. Why book a 250-square-foot room if there’s a 350-square foot room nearby?

2 TWO BEDS, ONE ROOM

A two-bed, one-room setup is best for keeping an eye on your loved one, especially in the middle of the night. Skip the suite or adjoining-rooms – even if offered a free upgrade.

 3 A DISABLED-ACCESS ROOM

Look for rooms with a clear access path, extra-wide hall and bathroom doors and bathroom grab bars. Some hotels go above and beyond with temperature-control faucets and emergency call buttons in the bathrooms. Ask at the time of booking if these features are in place.

Check Oyster.com for lists of the best “handicap-accessible hotels” in big U.S. and European cities.

MIAMI

http://www.oyster.com/miami/hotels/roundups/best-handicap-accessible-hotels-in-miami/#

NEW YORK

http://www.oyster.com/new-york/hotels/roundups/best-handicap-accessible-hotels-in-new-york/

LOS ANGELES

http://www.oyster.com/los-angeles/hotels/roundups/best-handicap-accessible-hotels-in-los-angeles/

LONDON, UK

http://www.visitlondon.com/where-to-stay/hotel/accessible-hotels

If a disabled-access room isn’t available, choose a room with few trip-and-fall hazards: a spare, uncluttered layout; no area rugs; a well-lit bath with non-slippery flooring (avoid polished stone).

4 SERVICE-SAVVY STAFF

Check Tripadvisor for hotels or B&Bs credited with excellent customer service. Often, small, family-owned establishments excel in this area (though larger hotels may train staff in disability awareness).

5 IN-ROOM APPLIANCES!

Room service can get expensive. A coffeemaker and fridge for snacks you buy elsewhere is prudent and will make mornings easier.

2 thoughts on “5 criteria for dementia-friendly hotels

  1. I must say that yours are very interesting posts about dementia and Alzheimer because they are often focus in suggesting to sufferers how to carry on with those activities that they used to do when they didn’t have the condition.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks! People with dementia are still people, so they, like everyone else, have families, friends, lives, emotions, and interests. The progression of dementia typically happens slowly over years so there are still many opportunities to keep active and social – life doesn’t end with a dementia diagnosis!

      Like

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