Creating dementia-friendly travel: enhancing accessibility and inclusion.

Abstract

The growing participation of older adults in travel is reshaping this industry and highlighting the need for inclusive travel experiences, particularly for people living with dementia (PLwD). While travel provides substantial physical, psychological, cognitive and social benefits that promote active and healthy ageing, it also presents significant challenges. Although physical disabilities are generally proactively addressed, more "hidden" cognitive difficulties often remain unrecognised and unaddressed. These include navigating complex environments, making timely decisions and relying on working memory-tasks that are further challenged by dynamic settings such as airports, train stations and bus terminals. Although efforts to create dementia-friendly travel experiences are underway, their implementation across travel infrastructure remains inconsistent. There is still much to be done to ensure this activity is accessible and inclusive for this population, and there is a need to advocate for a comprehensive, person-centred approach to dementia-friendly travel environments, emphasising the integration of tailored assessments, innovative technologies and coordinated global policies.