Holidays for people with dementia and carers

[DeborahBlythe]

I'm not sure if anyone has seen the online version of Living with Dementia for June, but there is a really interesting article about holidays for people with dementia and their carers.

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/sc...1&pageNumber=6

I struggled to take my mum on short breaks and wish I'd known about Vitalise when my mum was alive.

Does anyone know of any other specialist breaks? Or have any good experiences from hotels, or holiday resorts etc?

[littlegem]

Hi Deborah,
I knew about Vitalise but to be honest they are way out of our reach financially.
There is a hotel in Llandudno which caters for the disabled and carers but that too is out of reach, think it's about £450 each a week. llandudno is great for the disabled as it's all flat, the hotel is on the west shore but it's an easy reach to the main town, there is even a little train from one shore to the other.
So we plod on without a break.
Pm me if you want the name of the hotel

[DeborahBlythe]

Hello Littlegem, I remember Llandudno from a trip there some years ago. I loved it.

I know what you mean about costs. Even modest holidays seem pricey to me now!

I used to take my mum to a couple of places that ran activity holidays for adults. One was called Earnley Concourse, near Chichester, and the other was The Old Rectory at Fittleworth, West Sussex. They were both wonderful for all sorts of reasons.

We went on Easter Getway breaks where you could do lots of different things, painting, winetasting, walking, dancing and so on. They weren't directly geared for people with dementia but the staff and tutors were very gentle and friendly and helpful and my mum felt at home there. I could enjoy activities with her or I could leave her in one class which she enjoyed, painting or craft, and go and walk or do something for myself. Then we would meet up for meals or do an afternoon class together. It was wonderful. Both of these places had swimming pools too.

So I was devastated to see that The Old Rectory had been sold off for housing a few years ago, and last week I learnt that Earnley is now closed too.

I was really heartened to read about Vitalise and Dementia Adventure.

[jeepney]

Hi you should try the Bond hotel group in Blackpool we go many times they specialise in holidays with care and are good at it

[Spiro]

So I was devastated to see that The Old Rectory had been sold off for housing a few years ago, and last week I learnt that Earnley is now closed too.

Oh no, has Earnley closed? I'm in shock. Haven't been there for a few years. The last time was with Mum and she loved it; this was before she showed any symptoms of dementia.

I wonder what has happened to the peacocks - have they been rehomed?

[DeborahBlythe]

Yes Spiro, so I'm reliably informed. http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/sch...oors_1_3360390

I had a number of lovely breaks there alone, learnt to use a computer on one of ther computing courses, did creative writing on another course, discovered the joys of the Sussex countryside on one of their nature breaks, including an introduction to the wonderful RSPB reserve at Pulborough with which I fell heavily in love. Went on a musical break there which led to several years of singing with a Big Band whose leader was on the same break.

And the breaks with my mum were just lovely..and full of enjoyment... I particularly remember being in a winning team of quizzers with her one year, where as a former geography teacher she was the 'geography expert' for the evening, before her dementia had really got too much of a grip. I made good friends from people I met at Earnley. It's like seeing the end of a golden era for me. And my mum was loved by the people who met her and enjoyed her company.

I don't know what has happened to the peacocks. They were characters weren't they?

I've maintained some of the friendships though, so that is a plus, but it's such a loss to see creative, stimulating places disappear, and with them the opportunities for learning and friendship and fun.

[Izzy]

I saw a link to a company which specialises on dementia holidays on cruise ships. I think it would be very expensive. I'll look for the link.

[Izzy]

Found it!

http://www.chalfont-line.co.uk/alzheimer_welcome.html

No doubt extremely expensive.

[DeborahBlythe]

An interesting link, Izzy. Something for you and Bill to treat yourself with one day perhaps? When you're feeling flush, I mean. x