When do you know it’s time to stop bringing family members on travel vacations?

June 2026

This is one of those questions I hear all the time from families I work with, and it almost always comes wrapped in guilt. The honest answer is that the trip itself is rarely the real issue. What you’re actually navigating is a shift in the family dynamic.

Before bringing a loved one on a trip, ask yourself these questions:

• Is this destination familiar to your loved one or entirely new?
• Is there somewhere quiet they can decompress when the stimulation gets to be too much?
• What’s the plan if they become confused or upset mid-trip?
• Is the travel itself realistic, given where they are right now?

However, stepping back from the big family trip doesn’t mean stepping back from connection. It means redefining what connection looks like at this stage of life. A relaxed weekend visit, a shared meal at home, or a local outing can often do more for a relationship than a week of airports and itineraries ever could. Honor where your family actually is, not where the tradition says you should be.

I also recommend that caregivers who are traveling with a parent with cognitive impairment and their own children ask the little (or not so little) ones to help out in some discreet ways that help you. You’re already modeling caregiving every day at home – and they’re watching. So on vacation, let them help you by spending time with their elders. Maybe an hour for games before or after lunch each day, or making time for a daily walk with just them. Make that part of the vacation, and as things progress year after year, they will come to know and appreciate their own role, too.

Each month, Dr. Marc Rothman, our CEO and a seasoned geriatric expert, addresses your concerns, providing practical advice and compassionate solutions to the challenges faced by those caring for loved ones with dementia. Whether you’re looking for strategies to manage daily care routines or need clarity on medical aspects of dementia, Dr. Marc is here to help. Join us to explore his responses to community questions and submit your own queries to deepen your understanding and enhance your caregiving journey.

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