Plan a dementia-friendly holiday for 2024

Did you know that this week is Dementia Action Week?

From 13^th – 19^th May, organisations and people all over the country will be coming together to help raise awareness of dementia – whether that’s awareness of the condition itself, awareness of the support and resources available or helping to fundraise for vital research.

Each year, Alzheimer’s Society leads the way to encourage us all to get involved. We thought we’d do our bit by offering our suggestions for planning a dementia-friendly holiday.

Step 1 – The devil is in the detail

The most important part of a dementia-friendly holiday is the planning. The amount of planning you’d do for a holiday without dementia playing a role, take that and double it. Make sure to plan everything carefully and well in advance to eliminate any problems, so by the time you go, you can relax.

Step 2 – Picking the perfect destination

The UK is incredibly diverse and has lots of lovely places for a holiday. From vibrant cities to rolling countryside and beautiful beaches, there really is something for everyone. You’ll also find a range of activity holidays, with tailored activities and workshops specifically for people with dementia and their families.

At Tourism for All, we have a selection of properties and attractions who cater for people with dementia. You can see a couple of them below.

Calvert
Calvert Exmoor, Barnstaple, Devon
Calvert Kielder, Hexam, Northumberland

Calvert Exmoor and their sister sites, including Calvert Kielder,  are designed with accessibility in mind and they offer holidays and residential stays, complete with activities for people with a variety of conditions, including dementia. Their accommodation is equipped for people with all kinds of dementia, as well as having inclusive activities, which can be tailored and having trained staff on site.

They know how important routine can be, so there is the option to follow a set schedule and there are people on hand to make sure you have the best break possible.

Find out more and book Calvert Exmoor and find out more and book Calvert Kielder.

Revitalise
Jubilee Lodge, Chigwell, Essex
Sandpipers, Soutport, Merseyside

Revitalise is another great holiday option for people with dementia. With sites in Essex and Merseyside, you can choose somewhere that suits where you want to holiday, plus as they are purpose built and fully accessible, you are well catered for, whichever site you choose. Revitalise centres have a team of registered nurses and holiday care assistants that are able to support guests with a wide range of conditions, including dementia and they offer a variety of onsite activities if you don’t want to head out and explore the wider area.

Find out more and book Jubilee Lodge and Sandpipers here.

Hoe Grange Holidays
Matlock, Derbyshire

Hoe Grange Holidays are set in idyllic surroundings and offer a dementia friendly countryside escape. The self-catering cabins have won awards for their dementia offering and they have a wide range of equipment available free of charge to guests who made need them, including rise and recline armchairs, shower chairs, wheelchairs and more.

Find out more and book here.

North Hayne Farm
South Molton, Devon

North Hayne Farm in North Devon is an award winning spot for people with all kinds of sensory conditions and their families. They are working towards a dementia friendly accreditation and offer a host of self catering properties that are well equipped for people with dementia.

Find out more and book here.

There are some great dementia friendly places for a day trip in the UK too, like WWT Wetland Centres around the UK, like Slimbridge in Gloucester, Llanelli in Wales, Arundel in Sussex and Martin Mere in Lancashire.

Other options include Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol, the Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry and several National Trust properties. Find out more here.

Step 3 – Getting there

If you’re planning to drive, make sure to stop at least every two hours. Plan your journey carefully factoring in regular breaks from driving and make sure to listen to traffic updates throughout the journey in case you need to make any changes to your route.

When you stop, if you are at motorway services, be aware that these can be disorientating, so make sure that you keep an eye on all members of your party. You can also use sunflower lanyards or something similar to highlight that some members of the group might need additional help, should they get separated from you.

If you’re travelling by coach, see if the company offers assisted boarding and travel. Many national companies offer this facility to support travellers who have additional needs, which might be useful if you are making stops in case anyone wanders off.

If you’re travelling by train, you can also book assistance. Depending on the rail company, you will usually have someone meet you at your departure station and then escort you to the train. You will then be met by someone at your arrival who will help you disembark the train. You can also check with the individual stations, as each will have varying accessibility facilities and may be able to offer additional help.

Step 4 – Make sure to confirm any arrangements before you set off.

Once it’s all booked and confirmed, you can sit back and look forward to your break and then on arrival, the holiday can begin immediately – so relax and enjoy yourself!