It’s possible for people to fly with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, if they have support and assistance to make the journey. One way to ensure that patients make a journey safely is to hire a flying companion for an Alzheimer’s patient.
Flight nurses trained in providing medical care at high altitudes also have expertise in dealing with people who live with a wide variety of medical conditions. They act as a medical travel companion, managing a patient’s medical equipment and prescriptions. They also provide guidance as they move through the airport, as well as when patients get on and off a plane.
Flying nurses are key to non-emergency medical transport (NEMT), which provides air medical care to those with injuries, disabilities and chronic conditions such as dementia.
A person diagnosed with dementia can fly, but they should first consult with a physician. Because dementia is progressive, different people will experience different challenges when traveling.
The Alzheimer’s Association advises that families allow the experience of patients and caregivers to guide decisions on making trips. They write: “For example, if you have always gone to Florida in the winter, you can continue the tradition until the trip becomes too difficult or is no longer relaxing for the person living with dementia or the caregiver.”
For those who decide to make a trip, they may ask, “Can I hire a nurse to fly with me?” The answer is yes. Flight nurses can provide a level of care that gives clients and their families the comfort of having a professional medical care provider along for the trip.
NEMT FAQs: What Flight Nurses Do?
For those considering the option of hiring a flying companion for Alzheimer’s patients, it’s important to understand all the services they provide. Flight nurses at NEMT companies such as Flying Angels coordinate all aspects of a trip, including booking flights. They also have ongoing relationships with airport and airline personnel that helps make the journey through the airport and onto a plane much smoother.
Flight nurses manage a large number of duties.
Ensuring patients have all medications and administering medications as needed
Staying with clients throughout their journey through the airport
Securing the best possible seats on the plane
Training in how to manage any medical situation that arises at high altitudes
Knowing how to get any equipment needed during the trip (such as wheelchairs), as well as the rules on their use
Ensuring clients have all the documents they need. In the case of dementia patients, this includes contact information for the primary care doctor, a list of medications and doses, a list of food allergies and insurance information
The decision to hire a flying companion for Alzheimer’s patients gives both the patient and his or her family the assurance of knowing that someone is on the trip who can manage any type of medical situation. For those diagnosed with dementia, it can make trips possible that they might have thought they could not take.
Inflight medical service is medical assistance given to patients during transportation by plane. In an emergency situation, it typically involves keeping patients stable on the trip to the hospital. In non-emergency medical transport, flight nurses provide care for patients through the airports and on the plane.
Flight nurses and non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) provide an air ambulance alternative. Patients get the medical support and assistance they need at a fraction of the cost. They offer inflight medical services to those who can’t fly on their own or prefer not to, including those with chronic conditions, injuries and age-related disabilities.
People require air medical services for a variety of reasons. But they all fall within two main categories: emergency transport and non-emergency transport.
Emergency Inflight Medical Services
Emergencies involve people who have been in accidents, natural disasters or some other situation where they needed to dial 9-1-1. In this case, air medical services may involve a helicopter. Medical personnel onboard treat a patient with the goal of keeping them stable until they reach a care facility.
The team of professionals providing medical services in an emergency situation can include emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics trained to quickly assess an injury and determine the best course for treatment during the flight. In these cases, life support care is the main goal.
It’s far more likely that people will use air medical services in a non-emergency medical transport situation. A NEMT company such as Flying Angels provides flight nurses who travel on commercial airlines with their clients. They coordinate the patient’s journey, including making reservations and calling ahead to airports and airlines to ensure they get all the services available for their client.
Reasons for needing NEMT can include a wide variety of situations.
Older people who want medical assistance while flying on vacations, to family reunions or to relocate to a new area
People who have suffered an injury while on vacation and want medical care for the flight home
Those with chronic conditions that make it difficult to move through an airport or getting on and off an airplane.
Patients flying to see a specialist in another part of the country
Whatever the case, flight nurses provide expert care, starting from when the client leaves home until they arrive at their destination. They manage the client’s medications and medical equipment as well as help them move quickly through security and onto the plane. Flights nurses have experience working in emergency situations. They also have training in providing medical care at high altitudes.
It’s possible to fly with dementia, especially if they travel with a companion who helps them as they get through the airport, during the flight and after they reach their final destination. In many cases, that person is a spouse, family member or close friend.
Families also can hire a flight nurse to travel with their loved one, ensuring they have professional medical care throughout their journey. With the proper planning, professional care and attention to detail, it’s possible for someone to fly with dementia.
As The Alzheimer’s Association puts it: “Living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia does not mean it’s necessary to stop participating in meaningful activities such as travel. However, it does require planning to ensure safety, comfort and enjoyment for everyone.
People diagnosed with dementia must make changes in their lives. But those changes do not need to include withdrawing from daily life and never traveling again. As more is known about dementia, the approach to the condition has evolved into finding ways for people to live well with dementia. That includes the ability to travel.
Any decision-making process on a person’s ability to fly with dementia needs to start with the understanding that people experience dementia at different levels. Dementia is a progressive condition. Those in the beginning stages will have far fewer difficulties than those in the latter stages. Consultation with a physician is key in this process.
Even as dementia progresses, people may need to travel for weddings, family reunions, vacations or even to see a medical specialist. If you plan to fly with someone who has dementia, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Even if it costs more, create a flight plan that reduces or eliminates the need to change planes. Also, consider whether your loved one does better in the mornings, afternoons or evenings, and plan the flights accordingly.
Call Ahead For Information
Flight nurses make this a part of their job for every flight they take with a client. It’s especially beneficial for those who fly with dementia. Call airport officials ahead of time to find out if there are any special considerations for going through security if a person has dementia. A call to the airline also can provide information on support they offer for passengers with dementia (such as early seating).
Take The Documents You Need
Designate one carry-on bag to hold all the documents you need. This is especially important in case you become separated. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends the following:
Name and contact information for doctor
A list of all medications and dosages
Contact information for police, fire, hospitals and poison control for your destination area
A list of food allergies
Contact information for friends and family in case of emergency
A flight nurse always reviews a patient’s condition and becomes familiar with the details. If you decide to fly with someone with dementia, you should do the same. Know the warning signs that indicate your loved one is becoming anxious or agitated and have strategies to reduce that agitation. Never overload them with too much information.
Set Realistic Expectations
It’s important ahead of time to set realistic goals for each day of the trip, keeping things as simple and calm as possible. If you are traveling to a family reunion or vacation, know that your loved one may not be able to participate in some activities that take a long time or require complicated instructions. Know your loved ones’ limits – as well as your own.
If it seems like traveling alone with someone with dementia is overwhelming, consider hiring a flight nurse or caregiver to help you plan for the trip, navigate the airport and safely get through the flight. An additional person with professional training can give you great peace of mind for your trip. A dementia diagnosis, while life altering, does not have to result in your loved one no longer traveling. By planning ahead, setting goals and getting help if needed, it’s possible to safely fly with dementia.
Flight nurses travel with patients in both emergency and non-emergency situations. They have specialized skills in providing medical care at high altitudes and managing a patient’s medications. In the case of non-emergency flight nurses, they help patients plan their trips, navigate through the airport and deliver any medical care needed during the flight.
While most people associate flight nurses with emergency situations they have seen on movies and television shows, in real life most people come in contact with non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) flight nurses. People hire NEMT flight nurses through companies who have experienced nurses on staff to accompany clients on their journey.
People who use non-emergency transport include those with chronic illness, injuries, and debilitating conditions. Older flyers also use NEMT for support in trip planning and getting through the airport.
A day in the life of a flight nurse includes many different duties and responsibilities. Their work differs from that of emergency flight nurses who provide pre-hospital care to people who have suffered injuries due to an accident, natural disaster or other emergency.
A flight nurse’s work starts before the journey begins. NEMT flight nurses collaborate with flight coordinators, who are also nurses, to go over all the details of the patient’s flight. They go over airport procedures and also contact any airline or airport officials they need to speak with before the journey begins.
They also review the condition of the client, ensuring they are bringing all the medical equipment and medication required for the journey. They pack their own medical kit to prepare for any needs the client might experience during the trip.
Flight nurses are trained in flight physiology, as well as psychological distress patients may experience during a flight. They also track the times for giving clients their medication and make routine health checks.
After landing, NEMT flight nurses make sure the client disembarks from the plane safely and ensures they get to their ground transportation. In some cases, flight nurses may even travel with patients to their final destination.
NEMT companies employ flight nurses employ registered nurses with years of experience in emergency room nursing and with formal training in providing medical services during a flight. They work with commercial airlines, helping clear any obstacles patients might encounter during their trip. People in many different situations may want to travel with a flight nurse. They include those who:
Recently suffered an injury and want assistance while flying
Recently went through a medical procedure and require medical support during travel
Those with a chronic condition or illness that makes it difficult to travel alone
Families who want a nurse to travel with older family members when they relocate to a new home or travel for a family get-together
A flight nurse can provide important care for those who do not wish to travel alone and want the security of having a trained nurse as a flight companion. For those in such situations, a NEMT flight nurse provides the comfort of knowing they will get to their destination safely, with professional medical care throughout the journey.
Having to go to the hospital is a stressful experience. But while it’s a great relief when the doctor discharges you, it’s important to have a plan in place that ensures you have safe transportation from hospital to home.
Medical professionals put a great deal of importance on this step of the process. They create individualized plans to maximize a patient’s chances of improving their health once they return home. When planning hospital discharge transportation, there are some important factors to keep in mind.
Before you leave the hospital, medical staff develop a plan to make the transition from the hospital to home as smooth as possible. They evaluate a patient’s condition, refer the patient to needed healthcare and make arrangements for follow-up appointments.
About 18 percent of all Medicare patients end up returning to the hospital in 30 days. A good place to start in avoiding that outcome is arranging transportation home that will provide the care you need in transit. That applies whether you are getting driven home or must fly home from your current location.
Medical professionals give so much attention to a patient’s transition out of a hospital because data has shown this is a crucial time that will impact how well a patient recovers after receiving treatment.
Everyone – the patient, their caregivers and medical staff – focus on medical treatment when a person arrives at a hospital. It’s often only at the last minute that caregivers and the patient think about transportation from hospital to home. However, it’s important to give the issue thorough consideration.
Family Caregiver Alliance writes that how transportation from hospital to home is handled “is critical to the health and well-being of your loved one. Studies have found that improvements in hospital discharge planning can dramatically improve the outcome for patients as they move to the next level of care.”
This also applies if a patient is traveling from home to another medical care facility, such as a nursing home. Those who have limited physical abilities due to injury, illness or chronic condition also will need transportation to future medical appointments required by doctors.
If you’re discharged from a hospital but remain wheelchair-bound or otherwise physically incapacitated, then it’s important to have transportation arranged from the hospital through a non-emergency transportation (NEMT) company.
Transporting a patient home is a highly choreographed operation involving many parties. NEMT coordinators work with hospital Cases Managers or Social Workers, who interface with Doctors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, on how to safely transition a patient from the hospital to home. Transitioning to home may also involve coordinating with a patient’s Care Manager who coordinates the needs of the patient once they are home. The goal is to not simply take a patient from one location to another but to make sure that the needs of the patient are met during the transport and that appropriate resources are in place when the patient gets home.
NEMT companies have experience traveling both in ground and air transit with patients who want a medical professional with them. They also frequently manage transportation from hospital to home and will know how to work with hospital medical staff to ensure they meet all of a patient’s needs.
Are you concerned about whether you should fly with a concussion? The latest scientific research indicates that it is safe to fly after a concussion, but it’s recommended to wait until the worst symptoms subside and your doctor has given you clearance to board a plane.
A concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury. When you fly after a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to use an abundance of caution. But it’s also comforting to know that a recent study found that flying with a concussion does not seem to worsen a concussion severity or symptoms.
What Is A Concussion?
Most people know of concussions from watching sports, especially American football. Because of the violent hits in the game, players suffer concussions on a regular basis. The National Football League has adopted a “concussion protocol” to manage concussions.
Outside of sports, concussions typically occur because of bad falls, car accidents and other incidents in which impact to the head causes the brain to forcefully strike the inside of the skull.
Concussions are a mild version of traumatic brain injury because they are not life-threatening. Concussion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Most people recover from a concussion within a few weeks, sometimes just days. But if you’re about to fly with a concussion, it’s understandable why you might want to think twice before getting onboard.
A team of researchers from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and US Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education Consortium recently published findings from a new concussion study.
Conducted between 2014 and 2018, the study focused on the impact of concussions on athletes who flew 72 hours after sustaining the initial injury as compared to a control group who did not fly.
Researchers conducted the study with sports injuries in mind. “Athletes fly to and from games several times during a season. It is important to know if flying shortly after sustaining a concussion may affect their recovery and prevent them from completing their season,” Dr. Tara Sharma of the University of Washington Medical Center, lead author on the study, told Reuters Health.
The researchers looked at symptom severity and recovery for 165 people who flew and 2,235 who did not within 72 hours after sustaining an injury. They concluded that “airplane travel early after concussion was not associated with recovery or severity of concussion symptoms. These findings may help guide future recommendations on flight travel after concussion in athletes.”
Tips For Flying With a Concussion
While the study found that flying did not adversely impact athletes with concussions, it’s still important to check with a physician before flying. Each person is different, so you want medical clearance before getting on a plane. Keep in mind that the study also focused on athletes who likely were in prime physical condition.
If you find you must fly with a concussion, remember to avoid anything physically taxing. You want to rest your body as much as possible. It’s also important to bring a companion who can support you with getting through the airport and flying.
A flight nurse is excellent in this capacity, as they have medical training and can ensure you safely reach your destination and also help make you as comfortable as possible. They also help by having everything planned out to alleviate as much stress as possible for your trip. While it’s possible to fly with a concussion, it’s important to do so safely. Consult with your doctor and take along medical support if needed. They can provide the care you need to make your post-concussion flight go smoothly.
