Tourism and dementia - how can we help?

[SophieD]

Hi everyone!

Our Programme Partnerships team are working on a guide to help businesses and organisations within the tourism industry become more dementia friendly. The team have reached out to Dementia Talking Point to hear your thoughts. Feedback will be used to gain a better understanding of the challenges for people affected by dementia within the field of tourism.

Do you have any positive or negative experiences from taking a holiday/trip within the UK?

What can be done to make things easier for people affected by dementia?

You're welcome to consider all aspects such as planning, booking, accessing and visiting as well as considering your experience with all sizes of organisations, from small B&Bs to hotels, and small museums to large leisure parks.

Thank you

 

[SophieD]

Thank you for sharing your experience @Sarahdun! It sounds like lighting and security are particularly important for you when looking into overnight hotel stays.

Does anyone else have a similar experience when choosing where to stay?

 

[nitram]

Not just tourism, applies to all 'eating out'.
Management and staff that, on request, are prepared to allocate an 'out of the way' table so that unconventional eating habits do not disturb the other clientele.

 

[Thethirdmrsc]

We don’t go away, in hotels or anything now. Last time, before he was diagnosed, we stayed in a B and B, and he walked out of the room in the middle of the night, naked, looking for the loo. We have a Campervan now, which we go away in, and I can deal with that at the moment.

 

[SophieD]

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experiences on eating out and accommodation @nitram and @Thethirdmrsc. Very helpful responses.

@Sarahdun it sounds like lack of respite for carers on holidays is a big issue for you and your husband. Thank you for sharing this, this feedback will be used by our Programme Partnerships team to gain a better understanding of the challenges for people affected by dementia within the field of tourism