In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman speaks with Sara Barsel, a retired research scientist, educator, and longtime dementia advocate who leads the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group and the Roseville Alzheimer’s and Dementia Community Action Team in Minnesota.

Sara shares how a single email about dementia-friendly airports in Australia sparked a grassroots effort to improve travel experiences for people living with dementia and their care partners. What began as a local initiative at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has grown into broader work helping airports better understand and accommodate travelers with cognitive impairment and other hidden disabilities.

Together, Emily and Sara explore the challenges airports present for people with dementia, from navigating crowded terminals and security sc ...