Cruising with brain injury

I'm writing for my cousin who has a brain injury. He is 47 years old and loves to cruise. Up until now, he cruised with his mom. She is now 80 and has dementia, so her cruising days are pretty much over. I'm wondering if anyone knows of a group where we could hire a companion/chaperone to go along with him. He is pretty self-sufficient but needs reminding and guidance so that he is where he needs to be when he needs to be there. He loves dancing as well as the casino (where he usually comes out a winner). Any information you may have to share would be greatly appreciated!

It night be best just to ask someone he already knows who is familiar with the situation to accompany him on the cruise.

I guess a special nurse woulg be ideal. They have better skill and patience when a situation calls for it.

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Call local home health care companies

They might have suggestions

I just did a google search "travel companion disabled". Lots of options came up. There are companies that specialize in providing travel companions for people with disabilities

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If you are open to unconventional suggestions - see if you have a local nursing school. Most of them require potential student nurses to pass nurse aide training for entry, and if you found a student who had worked as an aide, she/he would probably be glad to provide the minimal assistance your cousin needs for the cost of the cruise (and have the experience to know what to expect).

Call local home health care companies

They might have suggestions

 

I just did a google search "travel companion disabled". Lots of options came up. There are companies that specialize in providing travel companions for people with disabilities

 

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I also googled travel companion disabled and came up with a list of companies. When I looked at each of them, none of them fit or they were from 2006 and don't pertain to today. I appreciate your post. Thank you.

Hi Terri. I am a TBI nurse and also from NJ. May I assume he would be cruising out of NJ or NY? Would the companion be staying in the same cabin with him? Would he be paying for the expenses? The reason I ask these questions is....there are many CNA's that work TBI units and would prove to be extremely helpful and reliable. I would actually contact a facility like Kessler Rehabilitation Center....(all over NJ. Saddlebrook, Chester, West Orange) and try to find one there. They are very knowledgeable and I'm sure you would find someone that would love to go on a cruise. If I can help you with phone numbers or contacts....please let me know.

Hi Terri. I am a TBI nurse and also from NJ. May I assume he would be cruising out of NJ or NY? Would the companion be staying in the same cabin with him? Would he be paying for the expenses? The reason I ask these questions is....there are many CNA's that work TBI units and would prove to be extremely helpful and reliable. I would actually contact a facility like Kessler Rehabilitation Center....(all over NJ. Saddlebrook, Chester, West Orange) and try to find one there. They are very knowledgeable and I'm sure you would find someone that would love to go on a cruise. If I can help you with phone numbers or contacts....please let me know.

That would be amazing. He always goes out of NJ/NY because he doesn't like to fly. Ideally the companion would be in a single (adjoining if possible) cabin right next door. We would pay the cruise fare and a fee for service. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated! You can email me at tdilalo at gmail.com

That would be amazing. He always goes out of NJ/NY because he doesn't like to fly. Ideally the companion would be in a single (adjoining if possible) cabin right next door. We would pay the cruise fare and a fee for service. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated! You can email me at tdilalo at gmail.com

I will email you by Sunday after gathering a few phone numbers and contacts, so please give me a couple of days. I can also put you in direct contact with a couple of CNA'S that may be interested. Does your cousin prefer a female or male. What dates/itinerary is he looking at? I know the ships and itineraries that pull out of NY/NJ, but do you have one picked out yet or is everything still up in the air?

I think he'd prefer a male companion. We don't have any particular cruise picked out yet. He keeps booking them and we keep cancelling them because he can't go alone. I'd guess it would be the end of the summer, beginning of fall. He'd go south, not to Canada. Thanks for your help! It is truly appreciated!

I think he'd prefer a male companion. We don't have any particular cruise picked out yet. He keeps booking them and we keep cancelling them because he can't go alone. I'd guess it would be the end of the summer, beginning of fall. He'd go south, not to Canada. Thanks for your help! It is truly appreciated!

No problem Terri. I will start working on it and email you with any info I can get.

Wonderful result. True value of this site!!

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