I’m on holiday again

[Shelac]

Thought I’d share my new holiday experience. My sister has rented a 2 bedroom flat in Benalmadena Spain for 4weeks so decided to join her for 5 days but then thought better if we stay with her for couple then hotel for 3 days.

Journey started well - another sister decided to travel with us so we picked her up and drove to Meet and greet at East Midlands airport. That was very slick and easy.

I wore lanyard this time - queued as normal for bag drop as short queue. Had prepared for security this time Oh had no bag, no belt, nothing in pockets and shoes with thin soles so apart from short Kerfuffle to get him through the right screening gate again easy peasy.

Not too bad waiting for gate no.to come up and short wait at gate before let onto tarmac to queue again to walk to plane (Why let us out if plane not ready - I don’t know). So Oh very niftily climbed through a 3 foot high gate to walk directly to back of plane ‘to check our bags had been loaded’. Took me, my brother in law and 3 ( luckily very nice) security guys to persuade him back through the fence. On the bright side we were escorted on to the plane first so every cloud and all that. In Malaga airport we were whisked to front for security and bags ready when we got there. At this point it was once again - never going abroad again - but lovely sunshine, food and wine and iI’m already back to well-maybe. Travelling home on our own so we’ll see what that brings.

To be serious I did feel the lanyard was very wellrecognised this time and I think the 3rd security guy was called as he was dementia trained as he was very relaxed and said take your time to persuade him back through the gate.

Hope this is helpful for anyone venturing abroad.

 

[Shelac]

What is the Lanyard it sounds useful?

 

[Sue741215]

What is the Lanyard it sounds useful?

It is a green lanyard (such as are used at conferences) but just the ribbon part - it is green with yellow sunflowers and is used to note a hidden disability.. You can request one at assistance desks in airports - I didn't have to show any proof when I collected one and now I just keep it and use it in the airport. Ideally the one with dementia should wear it but as carer I wear it rather than try to get my oh to. The response to it can be variable but I have been directed to the business class queue at check in (unfortunately not to a business class seat - wouldn't that be good!), through the fast track lane and to special area in security. Some queues have separate lines showing the sunflower symbol. I assume it should be recognised in other public places but I've only used at airports. Sometimes it is not spotted and I have to hold it out to show it but in the last year all staff seemed to know what it is (abroad as well as uk). You can also sit in the assistance waiting area which can be useful as usually seats available.
If you are happy to make your own way through the airport rather than requesting assistance they can be very useful.

 

[Shelac]

It is a green lanyard (such as are used at conferences) but just the ribbon part - it is green with yellow sunflowers and is used to note a hidden disability.. You can request one at assistance desks in airports - I didn't have to show any proof when I collected one and now I just keep it and use it in the airport. Ideally the one with dementia should wear it but as carer I wear it rather than try to get my oh to. The response to it can be variable but I have been directed to the business class queue at check in (unfortunately not to a business class seat - wouldn't that be good!), through the fast track lane and to special area in security. Some queues have separate lines showing the sunflower symbol. I assume it should be recognised in other public places but I've only used at airports. Sometimes it is not spotted and I have to hold it out to show it but in the last year all staff seemed to know what it is (abroad as well as uk). You can also sit in the assistance waiting area which can be useful as usually seats available.
If you are happy to make your own way through the airport rather than requesting assistance they can be very useful.

Thank you

 

[Buntie123]

Thought I’d share my new holiday experience. My sister has rented a 2 bedroom flat in Benalmadena Spain for 4weeks so decided to join her for 5 days but then thought better if we stay with her for couple then hotel for 3 days.

Journey started well - another sister decided to travel with us so we picked her up and drove to Meet and greet at East Midlands airport. That was very slick and easy.

I wore lanyard this time - queued as normal for bag drop as short queue. Had prepared for security this time Oh had no bag, no belt, nothing in pockets and shoes with thin soles so apart from short Kerfuffle to get him through the right screening gate again easy peasy.

Not too bad waiting for gate no.to come up and short wait at gate before let onto tarmac to queue again to walk to plane (Why let us out if plane not ready - I don’t know). So Oh very niftily climbed through a 3 foot high gate to walk directly to back of plane ‘to check our bags had been loaded’. Took me, my brother in law and 3 ( luckily very nice) security guys to persuade him back through the fence. On the bright side we were escorted on to the plane first so every cloud and all that. In Malaga airport we were whisked to front for security and bags ready when we got there. At this point it was once again - never going abroad again - but lovely sunshine, food and wine and iI’m already back to well-maybe. Travelling home on our own so we’ll see what that brings.

To be serious I did feel the lanyard was very wellrecognised this time and I think the 3rd security guy was called as he was dementia trained as he was very relaxed and said take your time to persuade him back through the gate.

Hope this is helpful for anyone venturing abroad.

 

[Buntie123]

We are travelling out next Wednesday x can I just ask you about travel insurance what your with please. My husband 67 Lewy body desperately need some sunshine x

 

[BeeBeeDee]

I love holidays and am determined to keep going as long as we possibly can. We are going away tomorrow morning and the evening is being completely ruined by him asking if he has any shoes, shorts, t shirts, things to wear in the swimming pool, will the man come and get us in the morning (taxi), will they know who we are when we get there, will we get on the right aeroplane - on and on and on. BUT I think once we get on the aeroplane he will be calmer and each day when we lay by the pool in the sun (Fingers crossed) he will relax. We have got assistance through the airport with hidden disability but no lanyard - I will get one for next time. He will say he doesnt have a disability so why are we telling them he does and ask well what is my disability and if I say well you have Alzheimers he says I DO NOT why are you saying that. Some of the time he can appear to be ok, other times .................. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chizz]

We are travelling out next Wednesday x can I just ask you about travel insurance what your with please. My husband 67 Lewy body desperately need some sunshine x

Hi @Buntie123 - have a great break!⛱️

 

[Chizz]

I love holidays and am determined to keep going as long as we possibly can. We are going away tomorrow morning and the evening is being completely ruined by him asking if he has any shoes, shorts, t shirts, things to wear in the swimming pool, will the man come and get us in the morning (taxi), will they know who we are when we get there, will we get on the right aeroplane - on and on and on. BUT I think once we get on the aeroplane he will be calmer and each day when we lay by the pool in the sun (Fingers crossed) he will relax. We have got assistance through the airport with hidden disability but no lanyard - I will get one for next time. He will say he doesnt have a disability so why are we telling them he does and ask well what is my disability and if I say well you have Alzheimers he says I DO NOT why are you saying that. Some of the time he can appear to be ok, other times .................. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi @BeeBeeDee - have a great break!🏖️

 

[Sue741215]

I love holidays and am determined to keep going as long as we possibly can. We are going away tomorrow morning and the evening is being completely ruined by him asking if he has any shoes, shorts, t shirts, things to wear in the swimming pool, will the man come and get us in the morning (taxi), will they know who we are when we get there, will we get on the right aeroplane - on and on and on. BUT I think once we get on the aeroplane he will be calmer and each day when we lay by the pool in the sun (Fingers crossed) he will relax. We have got assistance through the airport with hidden disability but no lanyard - I will get one for next time. He will say he doesnt have a disability so why are we telling them he does and ask well what is my disability and if I say well you have Alzheimers he says I DO NOT why are you saying that. Some of the time he can appear to be ok, other times .................. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi @BeeBeeDee - jut to say you should be able to pick up a lanyard at the assistance desk though you may not need one with assistance - sorry will probably be too late when you see this. Sorry to hear about your ohs anxiety during preparations and hope he settles on the plane and that you have a lovely holiday. I never talk about oh's disability as there is nothing wrong with him - haha -if we go to special queue I say fast track but really he doesn't listen or notice that I am wearing lanyard. Your partner is obviously more aware - I sometimes say as we are old we get special privileges to get through airport quicker.

 

[Sue741215]

We are travelling out next Wednesday x can I just ask you about travel insurance what your with please. My husband 67 Lewy body desperately need some sunshine x

 

[Sue741215]

We are travelling out next Wednesday x can I just ask you about travel insurance what your with please. My husband 67 Lewy body desperately need some sunshine x

Hi @Buntie123
We have annual travel insurance with Insure and Go who I have used a few times. My oh on paper has Alzheimers, slow heart, blood pressure, lymphoma and has had angina so not easy to get insurance. I say on paper as actually for his age he is physically fit and rarely ill. With the Alzheimers they just ask if he has got worse in last few months and if he will be accompanied at all times - I answered no to the first as no obvious deterioration and yes re being accompanied and I think his other issues are more significant for insurers. I find the process re medical info difficult as they want yes/no answers and as I have to answer cautiously to ensure he is covered I feel annoyed as it makes him seem really ill which despite his problems he really isn't.

The funny thing about Insure and go which I do on the internet is if I try for annual insurance they turn me down so I apply for single trip and at the end of the process ask if I want to upgrade to annual and when I say yes they let me!

I tried some of the recommended insurers for multiple health conditions thinking they might have a more nuanced approach but found they just asked the same questions as on the internet and were only interested in yes/no answers and were more expensive.

I tried Staysure who advertise as being good for health conditions and went through the long process of answering all the questions only to be refused which annoyed me.

I don't think dementia is too hard to get covered but don't know if Lewy body is different.

Sorry this is a bit long winded but may be useful for others. I hope you have a lovely trip and hope to hear of your adventures or homefully no adventures just a nice relaxing break. Good luck.