The North American Sunflower programme would like to thank Carol Giuliani for wearing, promoting and utilising the Sunflower. Carol is a professional travel companion who accompanies people with Alzheimer’s, sight loss, Parkinson’s and other hidden disabilities travelling by aeroplane. She is the owner of Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC, which has arranged the logistics and accompanied individual adults and couples on over 100 trips in the last six years.
Carol says:
“I safely and comfortably bring seniors and people with disabilities to family events, vacation destinations and relocate them from other states and countries. I have a stash of Sunflower lanyards which I share with my clients to help get us through security at the airport. My home airport is MSP (Minneapolis, U.S) which distributes lanyards at our information booths. Even if I'm going through an airport that has yet to adopt the programme, I use the lanyard as a way to engage with the TSA agents and various airport personnel and to educate them on what it means for my traveller to wear a Sunflower lanyard. As a member of the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group (DFAWG), an international volunteer organisation committed to bringing the Sunflower lanyards to airports, I report on my experiences and do what I can to bring recognition to the programme. I have also partnered with Jan Dougherty, an RN and dementia specialist from DFAWG, to train and certify new travel companions within our business, Certified Senior TravALZ Companions, LLP. That training includes teaching our companions about the Sunflower lanyards and how to use them. I believe in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard programme and am always excited to see others wearing the green and gold! ”
The In the air campaign continues to thrive, here in North America, as we welcomed two new airports within the United States this month: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority. And we are thrilled to announce that on your next trip to the Caribbean, Sunflower wearers passing through Nassau airport in the Bahamas will now be supported, as the airport became a Sunflower member this month.
New businesses and charities that have joined this month include:
- Evansville Wartime Museum- Evansville Indiana
- Sagemont Church – Houston, TX
- MSE Branded Foods- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Blair Blue Community Transportation, Blair Nebraska
- Supported Living- San Antonio, TX
- Equilibrium Counseling- Loveland, Colorado
- Gee Gee Senior Travel Companion Services- Custer, South Dakota
- Scottsdale Arts, Scottsdale AZ
- Visit Issaquah, Issaquah, WA
- Well Star Health Systems – Marietta, Georgia