Travel & Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological illness characterized by the loss of dopamine in the brain. The depletion of dopamine affects body movement, speech and sometimes mental cognition. PD affects each person differently and progresses at different rates. However, newer medications and the option of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery (see Reference 2) allow people with PD to live fairly normal lives. If you are struggling with PD, the thought of traveling outside your comfort zone can be intimidating. By following some basic steps, you can and should enjoy traveling.

Preparation

• Organization makes traveling easier.

  Creating a well-organized travel itinerary is key to maximizing your enjoyment and minimizing stress. Be realistic about how far you can travel depending on how advanced your PD is and in what ways it has affected your degree of movement. Be honest with yourself. A consultation with your primary neurologist is always a good idea. Your neurologist can help you decide if traveling to Arizona, as opposed to Asia, is a more pragmatic choice.

Considerations

• Talk to your doctor before you travel

  If you have Parkinson’s, even if you have opted for DBS, you are usually on some form of medication. Have your doctor write a summary of your illness and what medications you are on and the dosages (see Reference 3). Find out where the closest neurologist and hospital are located in case there is an emergency. Your neurologist may have recommendations, or even know of a particular doctor or hospital that would be available to you.

Warning

• Keep your medications with you at al times during travel.

  Whether you are traveling by car, plane, ship or train, make sure you keep all your medications with you at all times and bring extra amounts. You do not want to run the risk of losing your luggage that might contain all your medications. You also do not want to run out of medications as this has the potential to be a huge problem. If you are traveling to a country where a different language is spoken, it is wise for you, or your caregiver, to learn how to articulate your condition and the names of each medication in that language to avoid misunderstandings.

Plan Ahead

• Make sure your lodging offers help to people with disabilities.

  When considering hotels or other types of lodging, find out ahead of time about what accommodations they offer people with disabilities. Do they have wheelchair accessibility? Do they have rooms with handicap installments in their bathrooms? Also, you may want to plan day trips and tours that are not far from where you are staying in the event you become fatigued, a common occurrence for people with Parkinson’s.

Additional Concerns

• Make sure your insurance coverage is in order.

  Another important step before traveling, is to make sure you have your medical insurance with you and to find out if your insurance plan provides coverage in the area you plan to visit.

  As PD progresses, it may be more comfortable to travel shorter distances. Since it is harder to move after sitting in a plane for more than three hours, you may want to avoid plane trips that exceed that time limit. Traveling by car is easier because you can stop at your leisure and take as long as you need to stretch and relax. Taking a cruise is another ideal travel experience because every aspect of the trip, including meals, is automatically prearranged. You will have little planning to do before a cruise other than deciding what clothes to pack and making sure that your cabin is appropriately equipped for any handicap you may be struggling with.

Potential

• Traveling with Parkinson's has great potential for confidence building.

  Traveling with Parkinson’s, as with any illness, requires more planning. However, if you take the time to design a smart, detailed travel itinerary, you can avoid any unnecessary discomforts and misunderstandings. There is no reason why a person with Parkinson’s should feel that they must stay at home and become reclusive. Traveling is one way to stay active and social. Your confidence will improve and you will feel better physically and mentally.