Air travel for people living with dementia: An occupational therapy PhD study to identify the barriers and facilitators to participation

Society is gradually recognising and responding to the fact that people with dementia wish to remain actively involved in meaningful activities post diagnosis. However, one area that has received attention for not meeting the needs of people with dementia is air travel. Whilst legislation covering inclusivity in relation to flying for those with disabilities already exists, such legislation is potentially interpreted in favour of those with physical, rather than ‘hidden’, disabilities; a term used to encompass not just dementia but also autism, learning disabilities and others, reducing access for these groups . This presentation will provide an overview of an ongoing MPhil/PhD Occupational Therapy study that aims to capture the air travel experiences of people with dementia and their travel companions. Ultimately, this research seeks to inform guidelines for the aviation industry on how they can support people living with dementia in the future and thus increase participation in air travel for this consumer group.