Holidays & Short Breaks - Dementia-Friendly - Dementia Adventure
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Dementia-Friendly Holidays & Short Breaks
You can still enjoy
your holiday together
People living with dementia can often feel that holidays, travel and
outdoor activity are things that are no longer available to them.
Dementia Adventure specialise in designing and delivering small-
group short breaks and holidays for people living with dementia,
their partners, family, friends or carer to enjoy together.
What makes us special?
Dementia Adventure is an award winning social enterprise
and registered charity committed to helping people living with
dementia to get outdoors, connect with nature, themselves and
their community, and retain a sense of adventure in their lives.
The organisation was founded by Neil Mapes, who has a
background in clinical psychology and over 20 years’ experience in
dementia support, and travel expert Lucy Harding, who has led and Need Additional
managed tours and holidays around the globe for over 10 years. Personal Care?
We also design and deliver training and consultancy to If you or your partner require
organisations concerned with dementia, outdoor activities and additional help with personal
the benefits of positive risk-taking. We collaborate with academic care, we can arrange for
institutions and the public sector in research to advance the professional carers to support
understanding and nature of dementia. you throughout your break at
an additional cost.
How we make it happen
All travel, tickets, accommodation and itinerary are arranged for you
and each couple is supported by a trained Dementia Adventure
team member throughout the break—an extra pair of hands for
you and your carer to help with as little or as much as you require.
We ask that people living with dementia come with someone who
knows them well. It could be your partner or main carer but it could
also be a friend or relative. Grown up children accompanying their
parent on holiday often works very well. We can also arrange for The Dementia Adventure Trust
professional carers to join you if required. supports people living with dementia
and their carers by making outdoor
We have a selection of ‘off-the-shelf’ breaks that we operate
adventures fully accessible, and by
throughout the year, with fully designed itinerary, trips and
underwriting the cost of many of our
activities. All of our accommodation is high quality and dementia-
holidays and breaks to make them
friendly. Most of our breaks are suitable for wheelchair users
as affordable as possible.
and people with limited mobility, but please do ask us about the
suitability of each trip. We also design bespoke breaks to suit
individual needs—from weekends to more substantial holidays.
We cover destinations throughout the UK and Europe.
2
“We were with people who understood.
I could relax and enjoy being looked after too.
I had nothing to organise. Brian felt relaxed.
Everything was high quality.”
Brian & Rachel
3
Take Five
Take Five is a relaxing alternative to a traditional respite break for people living with dementia and
their carers, to enjoy time together away from home with other like-minded people. This five-day
break gives you time together in specially selected holiday settings, enabling you both to relax
and reconnect. As with all our breaks, each couple is given help and support by a member of the
Dementia Adventure team.
How it works
We create a safe and welcoming environment for small groups of up to 12 people. We support each
other, share activities, build confidence and above all have fun! Nature is a great healer and is very
beneficial for everyone, but especially for people living with dementia and their carers.
We combine activities such as train and boat trips, walking and exploring beautiful locations—all at
a relaxed pace that make a pleasant break for people of all abilities. Indoor and outdoor activities
are supported and are as physically challenging as each person can achieve. We ask people living
with dementia to come with someone who knows them well, preferably their partner, family member,
friend or main carer.
Destinations
We have a number of tried and trusted Take Five locations around the UK and add to these each
year. Working alongside specially selected partners, we ensure your accommodation and activities
are of the highest standards and appropriate for your needs. For more details, itineraries and up to
date destinations for this season, visit our website at www.dementiaadventure.co.uk or call us on
01245 237548.
Previous destinations have included:
●● Isle of Wight
●● The Lake District
●● Devon
●● Isle of Man
“‘We have benefited so much from this week
away, it is such a valuable service, thank you.”
Sue & David
4
“The effort made by everyone
to ensure that she (Mattie)
could enjoy everything to the
fullest was incredible.”
Mattie & Jim
5
Sail Away
If the idea of sailing and sleeping on board a classic full-sail boat sounds appealing, then our
Sail Away break is the one for you. Whilst this break may be especially relevant to those who
have some experience of the sea, no actual experience of sailing is necessary and for many
people who have enjoyed this break it has been their first time on board a sail boat. It is,
however, suited to people who have good mobility and balance and who love fresh air and
wide open spaces. The understanding and experienced crew encourage you to become as
involved in the sailing of the vessel as you feel comfortable with and you will be supported by a
member of the Dementia Adventure team. You can be as hands-on as you like, or simply relax
and watch the world sail by!
How it works
We assemble small groups of up to 12 people, 4 of whom will be people living with dementia. The
pace of this break is easy and relaxed. We spend four nights on the boat and you will be eating
and sleeping on board. The vessel is comfortable and unique with spacious two and three-bunk
cabins and large living and dining areas. Cooking and eating are enjoyed together and everyone can
choose to participate in preparation, cooking and clearing up afterwards. Carrying out practical tasks
and working together on the boat gives people a sense of usefulness and achievement—being part
of a team. Close bonds and camaraderie are fostered on these trips and we create a supportive
group that brings out the best in its members.
Destinations
We have a number of Sail Away locations around the UK which can change from year to year. Our
sailing partners are specially hand-picked and are fully aware of the needs and requirements of our
clients. For more details, itineraries and up to date destinations for this season, visit our website at
www.dementiaadventure.co.uk or call us on 01245 237548.
Previous destinations have included:
●● Maldon - exploring the ‘Essex Sunshine Coast’
●● Cornwall - River Fal and the Carrick Roads
“The passion, patience, humour and affection of
your volunteers and crew should be bottled for
resale. You let us have fun whilst feeling safe.”
Janet & Martin
6
“It made me feel more like
a human being again. It has
opened new doors to friendship.”
Wilf & Aileen
Photo by John Parish
7
Escape to the
Country
Our Escape to the Country break is ideal for getting away from it all for a few days, or equally for a
special celebration for you and your family. We have some wonderful destinations where you, your
partner, your family, friends or carer, can enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of the UK. Durations
of stay are very flexible, from long weekends to more substantial holiday breaks. We hand-pick
dementia-friendly venues for you to enjoy and feel relaxed in—from chocolate box self-catering
cottages to cosy B&Bs. If you want to escape from the city, sample great regional food and drink,
visit grand houses and gardens and immerse yourself in the superb National Parks of the UK, then
this is the break for you.
How it works
Tell us what you want from your country escape and we will make it happen! If you would like to
celebrate a special birthday or anniversary with family, we can provide help and support and arrange
those little touches that will make your break memorable. We can create itineraries for you, book
tickets, arrange transport, and make sure that your accommodation is of a high quality and suitable
for people living with dementia.
Destinations
We have a number of Escape to the Country locations throughout the UK and can also source
additional destinations to suit your specific requirements. For more details call us on 01245 237548.
Destinations include:
●● The New Forest & Dartmoor
●● Devon and Cornwall
●● The Cotswolds
●● Wales
●● The Lake District
●● Scotland
“I’ve had a relaxing time, Barbara slept better than
she usually does. I’ve been on loads of holidays but
this has much better personal service”
Barbara & Frank
8
Photo by Diliff
Photo by Saffron Blaze Photo by JKMMX
“Who doesn’t feel good after
being in the fresh air doing
activities they enjoy!”
Jesse Reed, Adventure Leader
Photo by Saffron Blaze 9
Bespoke
Our Bespoke breaks are tailor-made just for you—any time, any place, anywhere! Long or short,
we design a break specifically around your requirements, abilities and preferred destinations across
the UK and Europe. If you would rather be part of a larger group we may be able to match you with
other like-minded couples or you could travel with family and friends in a group of up to 8 in total.
As with all of our breaks, you are supported by a member of the Dementia Adventure team.
How it works
It all starts with a conversation! You may want to return to a much–loved holiday destination,
explore somewhere you have always wanted to visit, or there maybe an activity or experience that
you have always wanted to do. We are open to any ideas and anything is possible. We can often
provide a door-to-door service with our mini-bus (see below). We make sure that everything is at a
relaxed pace as that makes a pleasant break for people of all abilities including wheelchair users
and people with limited mobility. Please inform us of your particular physical abilities so we can
design your break around you.
Destinations
We cover destinations throughout the UK and Europe. For more details call us on 01245 237548.
Previous bespoke breaks have included:
●● Canal Holiday - a father and son revisiting a much–loved holiday pastime
●● Family reunion in Devon - cream teas and local pubs
●● Football and golf weekend - for a keen sportsman supported by our Adventure Leader
●● White water rafting adventure - for two ladies living with dementia in Scotland
●● Driving adventure - fulfilling a long held wish
Our luxury VW Caravelle
●● Specially selected 7-seater vehicle
●● Easy access sliding doors
●● Front and back facing seating options
●● Comfortable with plenty of leg room
●● Great visibility for passengers
“I enjoyed the casual and relaxed atmosphere in
the country – doing my own thing (and due to the hot
weather we had to retreat to the occasional cool pub).”
John & Chris
10“Were there
side effects
from my
exhilarating
experience?
Yes there
were–good
ones.”
James & Maureen
11All our services...
“Helping people living with dementia get outdoors,
connect with nature, themselves and their community,
and retain a sense of adventure in their lives.”
Holidays and Short Breaks
We provide dementia‑friendly holidays, from small groups to bespoke individual
breaks. We offer an alternative to traditional respite as partners, family or friends can
join you on your holiday and benefit from the support that we provide.
Training
We help other organisations, Local Authorities, charities, care professionals and family
carers, achieve our primary goal of helping people live well with dementia, have access
to the outdoors and continue to do the things they love. Being outdoors and retaining a
sense of adventure in our lives is crucial to all of us, and for people who can often find
themselves spending too much of their time indoors it can be doubly beneficial. Many
people living with dementia, whether in care or in their own home, can face barriers in
accessing these benefits. We help people break down these barriers through a deeper
understanding of dementia and practical steps that they can implement.
Consultancy
As specialists in supporting people with dementia access outdoor spaces, we provide
expert advice to organisations concerned with understanding the needs of people living
with dementia, engagement with outdoor activities and the benefits of positive risk
taking. Our team of Project Leaders have a breadth of experience, skills and expertise
that can help design and deliver bespoke projects and help to deliver better outcomes
for people living with dementia, their families and the staff who support them.
Research
Our work is grounded in research and is shared through multimedia, face to face
presentations and text based reports. We collaborate with academic institutions and
the public sector to advance and contribute to the growing evidence-base for being
physically active within nature and the benefits it brings to people living with dementia.
www.dementiaadventure.co.uk
Tel: 01245 237548
Dementia Adventure CIC, Unit 11 Old Park Farm,
Main Road, Ford End, Essex, CM3 1LN
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