Dementia-Friendly

Holidays & Short Breaks

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 managed tours and holidays around the globe for over 10 years.

We also design and deliver training and consultancy to organisations concerned with dementia, outdoor activities and the benefits of positive risk-taking. We collaborate with academic institutions and the public sector in research to advance the understanding and nature of dementia.

How we make it happenAll 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 professional carers to join you if required.

We have a selection of ‘off-the-shelf’ breaks that we operate throughout the year, with fully designed itinerary, trips and activities. All of our accommodation is high quality and dementia-friendly. Most of our breaks are suitable for wheelchair users 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.

The Dementia Adventure Trust supports people living with dementia and their carers by making outdoor adventures fully accessible, and by underwriting the cost of many of our holidays and breaks to make them as affordable as possible.

You can still enjoy your holiday together

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Need Additional Personal Care?If you or your partner require additional help with personal care, we can arrange for professional carers to support you throughout your break at an additional cost.

“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 & Rachel3

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 worksWe 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.

DestinationsWe 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

Take Five

“‘We have benefited so much from this week away, it is such a valuable service, thank you.”

Sue & David

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“The effort made by everyone to ensure that she (Mattie)

could enjoy everything to the fullest was incredible.”

Mattie & Jim

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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 worksWe 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.

DestinationsWe 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

Sail Away

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“It made me feel more like a human being again. It has

opened new doors to friendship.” Wilf & Aileen

Photo by John Parish

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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 worksTell 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.

DestinationsWe 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

Escape to the Country

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“Who doesn’t feel good after being in the fresh air doing

activities they enjoy!”Jesse Reed, Adventure Leader

Photo by Diliff

Photo by Saffron Blaze

Photo by Saffron Blaze

Photo by JKMMX

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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 worksIt 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.

DestinationsWe 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

“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

Bespoke

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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

“Were there side effects

from my exhilarating

experience? Yes there

were–good ones.”

James & Maureen

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Holidays and Short BreaksWe 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.

TrainingWe 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.

ConsultancyAs 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.

ResearchOur 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.

All 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.”

www.dementiaadventure.co.uk Tel: 01245 237548

D e m e n t i a A d v e n t u r e C I C , U n i t 1 1 O l d P a r k F a r m , M a i n R o a d , F o r d E n d , E s s e x , C M 3 1 L N

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