Stroud care home provides top tips on dementia-friendly holidays

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Aug 12, 2015

With the great summer get-away now well underway, Scarlet House care home in Stroud has set out its top tips for carers of people living with dementia who want to enjoy successful daytrips, extended breaks or holidays with their loved ones this summer.

Pyela Mwale, home manager at Scarlet House, explained: “Everyone deserves to get away from it all from time to time, and it’s no different for people living with dementia.  Taking a trip or holiday doesn’t need to mean travelling hundreds of miles, just a change of scenery can work wonders.  We have put together some top tips to help people living with dementia and their carers to make the most of the summer months, and to enjoy all the benefits of a well-planned get-away.”

Pyela’s top tips for family carers planning a dementia-friendly trip:

1. Think about how long the person living with dementia can travel for, this will be a big deciding factor in your holiday choices. Some people may not enjoy long journeys because they may become disoriented, while other people may prefer to travel by car, rather than using other transport that they are not used to. It’s important to think of your loved one and their preferences when planning the trip and remember to arrange any travel well in advance to give you the best choice of options and prices.
2. Think about taking a co-carer with you. If you want to relax on holiday and have some time to yourself, it’s worth including another person on your trip. What’s more your loved one may need more support than usual in a new environment with a changed routine and an extra pair of hands can be really useful.
3. Make a list of your requirements and ask your holiday provider how they can help you. Be clear about potential difficulties or limitations so that everyone’s clear on what to expect. It’s well worth asking your GP to complete an incapacitated passengers handling advice (INCAD) form and / or a medical information form. These can be very useful in helping you get the support you need.
4. Find out everything you can about your destination before you go. Will it be easy to get around? What activities are there? What will you do if the weather is poor? The ideal option is to complete a site visit beforehand, however if that’s not possible local tourism offices can be very helpful.
5. Talk to the person you care for about the holiday plans. It is really important to discuss the holiday plans with the person you care for so that they can raise any worries about the trip and you can ensure these are addressed. They may also have ideas of what they would like to do and where they would like to go. Remember to regularly share brochures and pictures of where you’re going so they are prepared for the holiday.

For more top tips download Break away – a guide for family carers on how to successfully plan and enjoy a dementia-friendly holiday. For information about Scarlet House, please call customer relations manager, Jim MacLeod, on 0333 321 0932 or email: jim.macleod@careuk.com