On 14 June 2016, there was a debate in the House of Commons regarding dementia and air travel, in which Oliver Colville, the parliamentary minister responsible for air transport, participated. During the discussion, the work of Plymouth University researchers, including the ICCMR’s Alexis Kirke – who sits on the Prime minister’s Dementia Air Transport Group – was highlighted. Oliver Colville MP said:
I was delighted to see research and a proposal by Dr Alexis Kirke of Plymouth University, which is based in my constituency, on the in-flight experience for accompanied travellers with dementia. Passenger announcements, in-flight entertainment and other ways to help travellers with hidden disabilities can go a long way towards easing the burden of travel. Proposals include making sure that announcements made during the flight are not distorted—for example, people can wait to make them until the plane has levelled off. Cabin crew are highly trained, but it is helpful to go that extra mile for someone who may be particularly distressed as a result of their condition. Music is also an effective way of helping a passenger with dementia to manage their mood. Perhaps we could have dementia-friendly entertainment systems on flights.
The above excerpt can be listened to here
The full debate can be found here.