I-D-air travel: international dementia-air travel

In our increasingly global world, air travel is an essential part of many people’s lives – both personally and professionally. However, barriers in the built and social environments of airports and airplanes can lead to stressful and overwhelming situations for people affected by dementia. Bustling airports that lack signage can cause disorientation – making navigating the environment difficult –and airline staff who lack dementia-specific training can contribute to anxiety and frustration. By 2030, it is estimated that 75 million people will be living with dementia globally – meaning that the number of people potentially affected by these barriers will have grown significantly. While the search for a cure for dementia is ongoing, the reality is that air travel needs to evolve to better support, acknowledge and include people affected by dementia through the application of “dementia-friendly” principles. Many initiatives around the world are attempting to address these issues. In our increasingly globalized world, we must collaborate in order to fully support people living with dementia. This session is presented by the International Dementia Air Travel working group (I-D-Air), highlighting worldwide initiatives that are improving the experience of air travel for people affected by dementia and other hidden disabilities. It will also address how we can ensure people living with dementia are directing the conversation, and discuss our efforts to build stronger international relationships through collaboration and knowledge sharing to facilitate consistent application of best practice. I-D-Air is comprised of experts from across the world, including people with lived experience, advocacy organizations and researchers.