Supported Small-Group Holidays with Dementia Adventure
We believe that with the right support — whether practical, emotional, or financial — anything is possible, which is why we offer small-group holidays for people living with dementia and the people who care for them.
Our small group holidays are always popular and sell out fast! Enjoy five days of fun and relaxation, with other people who are living through similar experiences to you. We take care of the details so you can get the most out of our hand-picked accommodation in a variety of beautiful destinations across the UK.
We’ve offered supported dementia holidays for well over a decade. We understand the complex and individual needs of people living with dementia, as well as how carers can benefit from having the chance to relax and enjoy time with their loved one while we take care of all the planning and background tasks. Whether you’re looking for an alternative to respite in which everyone gets a rest, or an opportunity to have an adventure together, we’ll support you to have the holiday you deserve.
Our holidays are available to people from all communities and financial backgrounds. We don’t want finance to be a barrier to you getting the break you need, so in response to the current cost of living crisis, we are subsidising our holidays by a minimum of 30% in 2024, already reflected in our listed prices. However, if the price of our holidays is still out of reach, we might be able to offer you further financial help, as well as support you with finding additional funding. Find out more here, or contact us if you’re still feeling unsure. We will help to make your holiday possible.
2024 Group Holidays
Contents
Must be seen to be believed! An absolute miracle of a holiday!
What to Expect
On a Dementia Adventure holiday you can expect to feel relaxed and have fun. Our person-centred approach means we get to know you before you go, finding out in advance what you enjoy and what support you need.
The holiday planning is all done for you, or with you, from accommodation and travel to activities and meals. Our expertly-planned itineraries ensure there’s plenty to enjoy, whether you want to relax by the coast, walk in the mountains, or explore historic sites.
Before you go, you’ll be invited to an online meeting so that you can meet the Dementia Adventure team. This is also your chance to get to know your fellow holidaymakers, all of whom will be looking for the same chance to unwind and have a great time among gorgeous, natural surroundings. A maximum of three other holidaying pairs will join you, so your group will contain up to eight holidayers in total. Some people end up staying in touch with each other after the holiday ends, and even form lasting friendships.
Our focus will be on what you can achieve rather than what you can’t. We’ll be encouraging you to have fun and to engage with all of the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors.
We offer:
- Around-the-clock support while you’re away
- Organisation, remote support, and personal communication in the run-up
- A five-day itinerary
- Rest and enjoyment for both the person with dementia and their companion
- Fully risk-assessed accommodation
- Transparent pricing, with no hidden extras
- Pricing that is subsidised by a minimum of 30%, reflected in the prices listed on our website
- Additional financial assistance for those who need it
- Support to fund your holiday
Making a Reservation
Once you have submitted your online reservation request, you will receive an email requesting information that will help us to keep you safe and ensure you get the best from your holiday, with questions about health, diet, mobility, hobbies, and interests. Once we receive your reply we will contact you and arrange a suitable time to discuss the holiday and answer any questions you may have.
Please note that a total deposit of £200 per two-person booking will be due within two weeks of receipt of invoice, which will be emailed to you upon submission of your reservation request. Your booking is confirmed once we receive your deposit.
Days Out
While away, you’ll enjoy a range of trips and activities. Depending on the destination you could be seal watching, sailing, visiting a farm, or walking through the glorious scenery of a nature reserve.
We focus our activities on those that enable you to access all the wellbeing benefits of connecting to nature and the outdoors. Potential activities and excursions will vary according to which location you’re holidaying in; take a look at our 2024 Holidays for more detailed examples of possible itineraries.
Food
You’ll enjoy picnics and pub lunches on our days out, and delicious meals prepared by our team when at ‘home’ back at your accommodation. We’re mindful of different dietary requirements and aim to fully accommodate them, whether down to allergies or religious beliefs. With the information we ask you for during the booking process, we’ll craft a tasty menu to suit the whole group and share mealtimes together in the communal eating space.
Meals on the First and Last Days of Your Holiday
We like to make the most of your time together. On your first day you will arrive in time for a late lunch or, depending on the venue, an afternoon tea. On the last day of the holiday we’ll enjoy a farewell meal together before you set off on the journey home.
Thank you all for giving us such a thoughtful, helpful and enjoyable week together. We have learnt a lot and laughed a lot.
The team were exceptional and I couldn’t have hoped for more. They gave us the confidence that nothing was impossible and we achieved things I had thought were impossible.
The Team
An experienced Adventure Leader will join you on the holiday to take care of all the practical day-to-day details, along with at least one supporter for every person living with dementia.
Our experienced and fully-trained team will be on hand 24 hours a day to do all the cooking and driving, assist at mealtimes, and accompany you on days out. We are an extra pair of hands, eyes, and ears so you can relax and benefit from the break. We’ll be sensitive to your individual needs, encouraging independence and meaningful activity where possible, and providing as little or as much support as you require.
The Dementia Adventure holiday teams are friendly, positive, and hands-on. Experienced staff and fully-trained volunteers, we’re there with you because we want to be; we love what we do, and we want you to love your holiday!
We are:
- DBS checked
- Trained to understand life with dementia
- Trained in communication and dementia
- Trained in risk analysis for outdoor activities
- Trained in safeguarding
- Certified in first aid
- Trained in food hygiene
- Trained in manual handling
- Trained in infection control, including COVID-19
Who Are Our Supported Group Holidays Suitable For?
We expect the person with dementia to manage day-to-day activities such as getting out of bed, dressing, and washing with the support of the person they are holidaying with. For this reason, we ask that people living with dementia come with someone who knows them well. It could be a friend, relative, or main carer. We do not provide personal care, but for an additional cost can often arrange it if needed. While we don’t offer waking nights support, you can come to us at any point in the night if you need help.
We recommend that you complete a Herbert Protocol form before coming on holiday, and bring a copy along with you in case of ‘unplanned adventures’.
Most of our breaks are suitable for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. On some of our holidays we use a minibus which has two steps for getting in and out, which you would need to be able to manage (see individual holidays for details). Please speak to us if you need more information on this.
If you don’t think this is for you, why not talk to us about the possibility of a supported tailored holiday instead?
What is Included?
The price you pay includes:
- Four nights’ full board accommodation
- All meals, including lunch and dinner on the first day and brunch on the last day. Some of these will be in cafés and pubs as part of the planned itinerary, and some at ‘home’ in the accommodation
- Complimentary soft drinks, tea, and coffee
- All activities and venue entrance charges
- Transport throughout the holiday
- Around-the-clock support from the Dementia Adventure team, on location and throughout the holiday
- Pre- and post-booking support
- Organisation, remote support, and personal communication in the run-up
- One free photobook per booking
A Typical Dementia Adventure Supported Holiday
The Price of Your Holiday
As a charity we fundraise to make our holidays more affordable for everyone. This year, we’re responding to the current cost of living crisis by continuing to subsidise our 2024 holidays by a minimum of 30%.
Depending on the location, a typical five-day holiday is currently between £1,150 to £1,450 per person. The price you pay includes accommodation; food; transport; activities; 24-hour support for the length of your trip; and all the organisation in the run-up! Behind every holiday there is a crew of people hard at work to ensure your trip goes off smoothly and safely, from scouting and booking locations to the nitty-gritty of meal plans and health-and-safety checks.
After making your payment (including your deposit) there will be no additional charges, and unless there are breakages or damage we will not bill any additional expenses.
By running our holidays on a not-for-profit basis, working with fully-trained volunteers, and using donations and funding from our supporters to cover at least 30% of the holiday cost, we aim to give a break to as many people who need one as possible — regardless of their financial situation.
Dementia Adventure is a member of the Travel Trust Association. This means that your payment will be placed in a trust account and protected by the TTA’s Guarantee, ensuring that your money is kept safe and secure in the lead-up to your holiday.
Funding Your Holiday
Our holidays are available to people from all communities and financial backgrounds. We know that funding your holiday can sometimes be difficult. Because we don’t want finance to be a barrier to you getting the break you need, this year we’re subsidising our holidays by a minimum of 30%.
These subsidised prices are the ones you’ll see when you check the listed price for each destination, and are made possible using the donations we receive from our supporters.
However, if the price of our holidays is still out of reach we might be able to offer you further financial help, support you with finding additional funding, or both. Find out more here, or contact us if you’re still feeling unsure. We will help to make your holiday possible.
What we offer:
- Transparent pricing, with no hidden extras
- Pricing that is subsidised by a minimum of 30%, reflected in our listed prices
- Additional financial assistance for those who need it
- Support with seeking further funding for your holiday
For those who can afford to pay the listed price, you have the option to make a further donation. Your donation will help us to support those who cannot afford a holiday to get away. If you would like to make a holiday donation, please contact us.
Infectious Diseases
We want you to have fun on your holiday, but your safety is our top priority.
We understand that there are many for whom COVID-19 is still a concern. Rest assured that we’ll keep up-to-date with the latest government guidance and follow any new COVID-19 procedures put in place. In the meantime, we are continuing with sanitisation and cleaning precautions. Every member of our face-to-face delivery team is vaccinated and we ask the same of all holidaymakers.
For more information, please read our COVID-19 Statement.
Transport
While On Holiday
During your stay with us we will transport you to all of your day trips and activities in our Dementia Adventure minibus.
To and From Your Holiday
We ask you to make your own way to the holiday meeting point if possible.
If you need help in getting to and from your holiday, we highly recommend Driving Miss Daisy, who will provide you with a high-quality, door-to-door transport service.
Driving Miss Daisy is an international companion and driving service, renowned for offering a safe, caring, and reliable service for people who find it difficult to get out and about. With more than 30 service delivery teams across the UK they offer personal assistance from your living room to the starting point of your holiday. All the drivers are DBS checked, private hire licensed, and first aid trained to ensure they can assist you with the highest level of care. The drivers are also Dementia Friends. For more information and to book their services visit https://drivingmissdaisy.co.uk/.
If you still have concerns about getting to and from your holiday, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and discuss it with us.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance for your supported holiday in case of cancellation due to illness or change in circumstance.
Though we don’t recommend specific providers, if you need advice we do suggest taking a look at website MoneyHelper, which contains an excellent free guide on how to get travel insurance when you have a pre-existing medical condition or disability. Please don’t forget to read our Terms and Conditions, which include our cancellation policy.
The Value of Being Together — and with People Who Are ‘In The Same Boat’
Rosie supports her husband, Jon, who has early onset Alzheimer’s. Rosie found their last solo trip together very difficult because she ‘was used to doing things as a team’. It was while they were away that she realised she’d gotten to the stage where she couldn’t take Jon on holiday on her own anymore.
When she came across Dementia Adventure holidays, she was nervous about the idea of a group holiday because it wasn’t what they were used to. But as soon as Rosie met the Dementia Adventure team, she felt her mood lifting.
“Jesse and Ruth had experience, so it’s a professional support you get, where you can learn from them and actually feel listened to. They know what’s going on. And that was fabulous.”
Not having to plan and shop for meals made a huge difference, and having things like activities and transport organised for them in the background really helped the pair to enjoy the holiday.
“Having meals cooked, that was a big thing, really, really nice! And at the accommodation, rather than having to go out every time. It was also lovely to go out one evening and at lunchtime, as that’s what we would have normally done on our own.”
Having at first been nervous about going on holiday with other people, Rosie found she enjoyed having somebody else to chat to who was ‘in the same boat’. Back at home, she’s found that she is now more confident about going out and advocating for Jon’s needs without being embarrassed.
"The holiday was such a positive experience. It definitely sort of gave me a more positive attitude towards dementia.”
"I used to think if somebody could be with Jon while I go off and chill, that would be lovely, but we wouldn’t have been doing it together. And while you’ve got that chance to do something together, that’s really important.”
More information
You can find a lot of information in our Frequently Asked Questions. Alternatively, you can contact us.
It’s really helped me to carry on caring for my loved one and has made a huge difference to our lives.
Reserve your 2024 holiday
If you need more information before reserving your holiday please contact us or call us on 01245 237548.
