How This Scientist-Turned-Entrepreneur Helps People with Dementia Travel the World

When dementia hit her family, this scientist found a new mission: helping people with memory loss travel with confidence.

When Carol Sargent traded her lab coat for entrepreneurship, she didn’t just switch careers – she changed her approach to human connection. A former scientist from Scotland who led asthma drug trials, Sargent’s world tilted when both her mother and mother-in-law were diagnosed with dementia. That personal ordeal sparked an unexpected journey: helping people with dementia rediscover the joy of travel through her company, Sargent Group Consulting.

Making Travel Accessible for Those with Dementia

Behind every successful vacation lies careful planning, but for families navigating dementia, the roadmap looks different. Sargent’s consulting work targets the hidden barriers that keep people with dementia from exploring the world.

Her approach starts with understanding each family’s unique challenges, from medication to anything that might cause anxiety. Sargent maps out detailed plans that cover everything from rest stops to backup arrangements if things go wrong. Her team also works directly with hotels and transport services to smooth potential friction points, making sure staff understand how to support travelers with memory loss.

What makes a destination work for someone who has dementia? It isn’t just about fancy amenities or special accommodations. As Sargent says, it’s about understanding basic human needs and dignity. For example, a hotel room becomes welcoming when:

• The bathroom door faces the bed
• Night lights create clear pathways
• Familiar routines can be maintained

This is of course just the tip of the iceberg. But it underscores an important perspective. “Help isn’t about making tea your way – it’s about letting someone make tea their way,” Sargent says. She and her team have guided over 1,600 travelers, proving that with thoughtful preparation, airports may actually feel easier than train stations, and new experiences don’t have to live in the shadow of memory loss.

Lessons from the Dementia Community

Working with dementia patients has taught Sargent insights that reach far beyond travel planning. “Body language tells us more than words ever could,” she says, noting how a quick glance or shifted posture can reveal volumes about comfort and anxiety levels.

Her client interactions and experiences show her that when you rush an interaction or an experience, that can strip away meaningful connection. Authentic communication often means slowing down and truly seeing the person in front of you.

Sargent tells the story of an 83-year-old traveler named Ronnie who relaxed at dinner with his family and unexpectedly started enjoying and tapping his toes to the music being played. His wife witnessed a side of him she hadn’t seen in years. Moments like these matter a great deal and are available to any traveler, even people with memory loss.

And that brings up another lesson those who live with dementia can teach us; live fully in each moment rather than fixating on what’s forgotten.

“We spend too much time worrying about what wasn’t remembered, instead of appreciating what’s happening right now,” she says.

From Lab Coat to Business Leader

Sargent’s scientific mindset shapes her business approach in unexpected ways. “In the lab, everything I worked with could kill me,” she explains, noting how this background taught her to weigh risks against opportunities with clear-eyed precision.

Her hypothesis-driven method stands out in the business world. Rather than always chasing best-case scenarios, which many an investor emphasizes, she says it’s important to test ideas systematically, measuring real outcomes against predictions.

Five years in Princeton, New Jersey also reshaped her perspective on business culture. “Americans say ‘up’ in tennis because they’re ready to move forward – in the UK we sometimes think too long about which way the racket might land.”

That American readiness to act influenced Sargent’s own leap into entrepreneurship.

Starting at 60: The Power of Experience

Age brings clarity about what matters, Sargent believes. Her generation – the youngest baby boomers – carries decades of insight into the challenges facing older adults.

“When you understand your strengths and passions deeply, entrepreneurship feels natural,” she says.

She can’t recommend entrepreneurship highly enough for others her age; that it helps to reinvigorate the mind and soul. She urges other seniors to tap their wisdom and join the ranks.

“Don’t wait – sign up for an incubator, volunteer, share what you know.”

A Future of Inclusive Travel

Sargent’s work points toward a broader vision where travel adapts to serve everyone’s needs. By bridging science, empathy and business innovation, she’s building pathways for families to explore the world together – proving that adventure knows no age or limitation.