Duchess DJ Dementia Diaries

I wish I knew that ‘I want to go home’ doesn’t mean the trip is over — it means she needs comfort.” 🇬🇧➡️🇫🇷 Traveling With My 75‑Year‑Old Mom With Dementia Eurostar Edition — London to Paris This is how I travel with my mom, who’s 75 and living with dementia. Every journey is built around comfort, calm, and joy, and the Eurostar has become one of our favorite ways to cross borders together. 🧸 Meet Baby Love — Her Security Blanket Baby Love (her big teddy bear) goes everywhere with us. He’s her comfort, her grounding point, her familiar face in unfamiliar places. When she holds him, her whole body softens. When she’s unsure, she squeezes him and settles. He’s not just a stuffed animal — he’s peace in her hands. 💺 Why I Book Business Class Because comfort matters when you’re caregiving on the move. • Extra space so Baby Love can sit right beside her • A quiet cabin that keeps her calm • Beautiful window views that keep her engaged • A full meal service so I can stay focused on her needs 🚆 Why the Eurostar Works for Dementia Travel • No airport chaos • No long security lines • No turbulence or pressure changes • A smooth, scenic ride that feels peaceful and predictable • Staff who are patient, gentle, and helpful ❤️ My Caregiver Travel Rhythm I always watch for her cues: • If she says “I want to go home,” I check the big three — hunger, restroom, or discomfort • I keep her favorite snacks, a soft scarf, and Baby Love within reach • I narrate the journey so she feels safe: “We’re going to Paris. You’re with me. You’re okay.” ✨ What I Want Caregivers to Know Traveling with dementia isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating moments of joy, even in the middle of a diagnosis. It’s about planting memories, even if they fade. It’s about love in motion — sometimes held in the form of a big teddy bear named Baby Love. 🧠 Want my FREE Dementia Travel Checklist? Comment “dementia” and I’ll send it straight to you.

I’m ready! Let’s travel 🧳

Mom looked forward to traveling. She didn’t understand all the details but when she saw me roll that suitcase downstairs, she knew we were going somewhere and I was not leaving her at home! She’d grab Baby Love and not let me get out of her sight.

Photo from Chili Pepper Cafe in Terlingua Texas near Big Bend National Park.

Mom’s motto: Just be yourself; that’s why she wore her favorite T-shirt often with Be authentic on it. She was sharing her message one description at a time.

TAKE VACATIONS
Go as many places as you can
You can always make money
You can't always make memories.

These two handsome Paramedics took excellent care of my mom and me. We rode together in the ambulance to the Paris Emergency Room as mom nearly passed out on due to hydration and our long haul flight from the east coast to Paris.

Once in the E. R, the nurses and doctors ran 21 tests to make sure mom was going to be ok. Surprisingly, all this only cost 💲 us was $225. Can you imagine what that would have cost in the good ole U. S.?

Duchess DJ Love, Dementia Awareness Advocate, shares lessons learned from taking care of Lady Lexie, her mom with Dementia for over a decade.

My Mom Has Dementia—Here's What Actually Works DJ Love shares essential caregiving tips for those supporting loved ones. Learn practical strategies for dealing with dementia and providing alzheimer's car...

She enjoyed traveling, exploring, and experiencing new places.
This smile is why I showed her the world: 26 countries checked off, all 50 U.S. States on multiple occasions, Road tripped through America hitting most of the National Parks, and flying the friendly skies frequently and her last year they were first class all the way because she deserved comfort. She cruised with MSC, Norwegian, and Princess. She told me after our 7-night cruise, that wasn’t long enough, so I booked us on voyages from 11-15 nights, she said these are just right.

IcelandAir: Best Airline for Dementia Traveling? My Review Discover why IcelandAir is the perfect choice for special needs travels. Read about my seamless journey from Paris to Boston with my mom, who has dementia.