About the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group
The Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group (DFAWG) is an international collaboration of professionals, academics, and volunteers in aging and dementia services and support systems, including present and former dementia care partners. DFAWG was formed in September 2018 after learning about Brisbane Airport’s dementia-friendly airport designation.
DFAWG’s mission is to promote the definition and implementation of substantive dementia-friendly protocols in U.S. airports and airlines and the harmonization of relevant air travel regulations world-wide.
The first project undertaken by DFAWG was the Traveling with Dementia – Airport Stories Survey. DFAWG realized that there was a dearth of information about the air travel experiences of people with dementia and their care partners/travel companions. In order to address this issue DFAWG constructed and administered a survey on all aspects of air travel, from booking a flight to landing at the destination.
Results from the Traveling with Dementia - Airport Stories Survey are now undergoing preliminary analysis. 265 completed surveys were recorded / completed. 24% (n = 64) of the surveys reflected the air travel experiences of air travelers living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. 76% (n = 201) of the surveys reflected the air travel experiences of travel companions for the traveler with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
The information from this survey will help direct our endeavors to make air travel less challenging for people with dementia and their care partners/travel companions.
DFAWG has also created a working definition of what a dementia-friendly airport is, gathered together a list of travel tips covering all aspects of air travel from booking to arrival, and compiled a list of tools and resources that travelers may find to be helpful. The development of these and other projects will be documented on this website.
Contact:
Sara Barsel, Ph.D. c/o DementiaFriendlyAirports@gmail.com
DFAWG’s mission is to promote the definition and implementation of substantive dementia-friendly protocols in U.S. airports and airlines and the harmonization of relevant air travel regulations world-wide.
The first project undertaken by DFAWG was the Traveling with Dementia – Airport Stories Survey. DFAWG realized that there was a dearth of information about the air travel experiences of people with dementia and their care partners/travel companions. In order to address this issue DFAWG constructed and administered a survey on all aspects of air travel, from booking a flight to landing at the destination.
Results from the Traveling with Dementia - Airport Stories Survey are now undergoing preliminary analysis. 265 completed surveys were recorded / completed. 24% (n = 64) of the surveys reflected the air travel experiences of air travelers living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. 76% (n = 201) of the surveys reflected the air travel experiences of travel companions for the traveler with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
The information from this survey will help direct our endeavors to make air travel less challenging for people with dementia and their care partners/travel companions.
DFAWG has also created a working definition of what a dementia-friendly airport is, gathered together a list of travel tips covering all aspects of air travel from booking to arrival, and compiled a list of tools and resources that travelers may find to be helpful. The development of these and other projects will be documented on this website.
Contact:
Sara Barsel, Ph.D. c/o DementiaFriendlyAirports@gmail.com
