See the world from your home – caregivers & virtual travel
If living under stay-at-home directions is curtailing your wanderlust, frustrated travelers and others who are limited to their hometown may enjoy some relief, perhaps revisit long-lost memories, and find inspiration for the future in the wealth of virtual travel options available.
The abundance of online travel-related entertainment opportunities is proving to be a boon to many would-be gadabouts, including Alzheimer’s caregivers. The ability to take loved ones on a tour – whether to a place that holds recollections of the past or to an exotic location that sparks the imagination – can provide relief from the stay-at-home boredom and a break for caregivers working around-the-clock.
Creating memories we never thought were possible
“Virtual reality solutions open a new world for seniors by allowing them to create experiences and go on journeys that were never thought possible,” said Meghan Donahue, director of Family Services for the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. “A person can sit at a cute cafe in Paris, see a famous cathedral from the inside, look at old photos, go to a jazz concert, watch a movie, play bingo or type in an address and take someone back to their childhood home.”
These virtual journeys also can help to reduce stress and loneliness, all while sprinkling in some fun.
“Virtual sightseeing is the next best thing to being there, and far more valuable than one might think,” said Donahue. “To help combat social isolation and depression, which is prevalent in so many during the aging process, especially when impacted by Alzheimer' or other forms of dementia, direct behavioral interventions like virtual travel can have a profound impact on the well-being, independence and dignity of an individual.”
And then there’s the benefits for caregivers
“Getting a loved one set up with virtual technology to travel back to where they went to school…where they got married…to climb a mountain they have always dreamed of climbing…these are all great examples of ways to keep a senior engaged at home all while giving a caregiver a much needed break,” Donahue said. “These have the dual benefit of boosting the mood of their loved one while giving caregivers an out-of-the-box way to keep their loved ones engaged and stimulated.”
Following are a few of the virtual travel options available to caregivers – or to anyone looking for an armchair vacation:
- The Louvre in Paris
- Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
- A nighttime walking tour in Osaka, Japan
- Utah’s Bryce Canyon
- The Sistene Chapel in Italy
- Colorful communities around the world
- The Eiffel Tower, Paris
- The White House, Washington, D.C.
- London’s Big Ben
- South Korea’s Gwangjang Market
- Antarctica
- India’s Taj Mahal
- New York’s Central Park
- The Great Wall of China
- A stroll on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile
- Disneyland in California
- Kihei Beach in Maui, Hawaii
- The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries
- Pyramids of Egypt
- Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Mexico
- Pyramids of Peru
- Hot air balloon festival, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Trans Siberian Railroad
- The Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Alcatraz prison, San Francisco
- New Orleans’ French Quarter
Scenes from nature
And wildlife videos
Whether you are looking for interesting entertainment or caregiving diversions, enjoy what armchair travel has to offer.
In this time of sheltering in place, the Alzheimer’s Association also is offering the majority of its educational programs and services online. Go to
training.alz.org for details.
If you have questions about how to care for your loved one under shelter-in-place restrictions or quarantine, call the Alzheimer’s Association free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia.™ For more information, visit www.alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.