Great job on the July 13 radio show. I just listened to both parts. I have a question for you about the caregiver cruise coming up through Celebrity Cruise Lines in February. Can you take your DH? Did you take Sid on the last one or is it easier to go by yourself? Is anyone else going from the message boards?
I'm thinking about it. I am also thinking about taking my LO on the cruise since he is early stages. We have never done the crusing thing. When they have the seminars, I'll just leave him at the pool or reading a book and go! I'm told Joan took Sid and some others in early stages did too!
I won't be taking my husband to the cruse, but I'd like to point out that the two of us did cruse just before I started searching for a diagnosis. It went very well. I'd say he was probably at a Stage 4 at that time because by the time we got the diagnosis 6 months later, he was certainly at least early Stage 5.
We both had a wonderful time. I'm just sorry I didn't book us on one more cruse about 6 months later. He could have still done it then and enjoyed it.
One of the advantages to the cruise is that it is a floating hotel. You don't have to pack and unpack. You stay in the same room. You eat at the same table every night, and you have the buffet for other meals. You don't have to leave to do shore excursions unless you want to. We did do them at our last cruise and did taxi cabs where they were available at several stops with excellent results. But you can stay on board and just watch the harbor. We did that too on one stop and enjoyed watching what was going on.
Because everyone's situation is different, I am referring all questions on who is appropriate to take on the cruise to Patrick. E-mail him at info@openseastravel.com or call 919-402 -8900. He can advise you better once you explain your husband's level of functioning. My way of looking at it is - it's for caregivers to get away and relax, so if you can get away by yourself - go for it.
In my case, Sid is NOT in the "no clue what is going on" stage, so we do travel together. However, if he's raging and tantruming next February, he can find someone to put up with him for 5 days, and I'll go without him.
Polly, if your husband likes cruises, and can stay by himself (either in your room or on deck with a book, or in the movie theater watching a movie) while you are at the seminars, then bring him! The rest of the time you can both visit with the rest of us and relax and we'll enjoy ourselves.
I am bringing my husband unless something bad happens and he is unable to travel at all, then I will be coming without him. I don't expect that to happen, but there is always the possibility.
Last year, all of the spouses were accompanied on the cruise, I understand. Each person has to make the determination as to whether their spouse can come, or bring a grown child or sister or friend along as well (I'm bringing my adult daughter) to stay with their spouse when there is something we are attending without them.
I'm also bringing my portable DVD player and his favorite movies for him to watch. <grin>
Another cruise tip - Because the cell phones don't work on the ship or if they do, it's an astronomical roaming charge, we brought walkie talkies with us, and if we were going separate ways, we kept in contact that way.
You who are flying to meet the cruise ship remember about the luggage issue. When we went on cruises I packed everything but the kitchen sink and regretted it while embarking and now you have the airlines charging extra for bags.
Pack light. Chico's is our friend. On the last cruise, I packed two pair of black knit slacks and various tops to go with them for the evening. There was one "formal" night, which meant that I wore the slacks with a fancy top. I have pictures of 3 of us ladies - two had on red sequined tops, and I had on a black top with pink flowers. Take a bathing suit, a couple of pair of shorts or capris (for those of us who wouldn't be caught dead in shorts) and some tops to go with them. A light shawl for the A/C indoors; a light sweater or jacket, and that's it.
Joan, you are a very practical woman! I am taking one suitcase and a carry-on. My husband is taking the foldover suitcase (that has the formal clothes and extra suit coat for other evenings) plus his carry-on. My daughter, on the other hand, will take a suitcase that holds within 10 ounces of the maximum allowarnce and her carry-on would strain our back! She doesn't understand the words "pack light" - and after all these years, I've stopped trying! <grin> I'm very excited and looking forward to seeing you and the others in person!
hello all, I am relatively new to the site. My husband was diagnosed with EOAD in January of this year. I have been reading about the cruise and what fun it was for the ones that went. I would like more information about the upcoming cruise in 2010. Who do I ask about this? If any one can be of assistance to me I would appreciate it. Thanks to all, and hope ya'll all have a great night.....
I'm the one to ask. The Caregiver Cruises are arranged by Patrick Toal of OpenSeas Travel. He is a geriatric social worker, whose main business is now his travel agency, but he still does a lot of work with caregivers.
Originally, he planned simple 3-4 night cruises for caregivers to get away and relax. On these cruises, he offered support groups that he facilitated. I first worked with him to advertise and promote the January 08 Caribbean cruise. We had a great time.
Then he got the idea to be more elaborate. So for the February 09 cruise, he had speakers and workshops, as well as support groups. I did a workshop on communicating with AD patients. I think we all agreed that more relaxation and less workshops was the way to go, so I'm pretty sure that is what is planned for the February 2010 Caribbean cruise and the Sept. 2010 Alaska trip. (Although any workshops or support groups are always optional).
We haven't yet worked out the plans for advertising and promotion from my end, but I am going to put up the link again to the caregiver cruise website. It will be on the left side of my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com
The best part of this year's cruise was getting to meet the website members who attended. We all had so much fun.
You can go to www.caregivercruises.com to see the ads for the Feb. 2010 Caribbean cruise and the 2010 Alaska cruise, but there is not much information up yet. I'll keep everyone up to date as I get the information.
That is a very sticky issue. In January 08, which was the first caregiver cruise I took, a group of us from our support group DID take our husbands, with Patrick's permission, only because they were all highly functioning. There is NO on board "day care" provided for the AD/dementia loved one. Which means if your spouse is low functioning, YOU are not getting the rest and relaxation you took the cruise for in the first place.
In February 09, some spouses were just too much to handle. So in answer to your question - you would have to call Patrick to discuss it with him. He makes the decision. 919-402-8900
Those who came without the loved one they were caring for had one heck of a good time - they relaxed, relaxed, relaxed. Went home with their batteries recharged.
Joang, thanks for the information. As much as a cruise sounds good without the husband, I would like to go on one with him because he has never been on a cruise. He is still high functioning and able to go at this point. I will check out the information and hopefully make arrangements to go. Again, thanks for the information. I hope to get to go and meet ya'll there.
Copy and paste this link - http://www.caregivercruises.com/ Click on the YouTube slide show about our Jan.08 cruise. The picture of everyone all dressed up at the table is my group of friends. You can also click on the "Memory Walk at Sea" video. Lucky me did not have to participate in the Memory Walk because it was right before my communication workshop, so while everyone else was walking around the ship, I was setting up and preparing for my workshop.
I don't think the prices for the 2010 Alaska cruise have been set yet.
For the Feb. 09 cruise, Patrick teamed up with a care facility (sorry, I don't have all the information on who, what, where) and they had a contest - one lucky caregiver won the cruise for 2. The woman who won hadn't had a vacation in years, did not have much money, and was totally stressed out from caregiving. She and her husband had the time of their lives on the cruise.
When Patrick is ready with advertising and promotion information, I will be posting it.