Planning a dementia-friendly holiday? Here’s what to consider

Around 1 million people in the UK are living with some form of dementia, according to a 2024 report commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Society.

The NHS estimates that one in three of us will care for somebody with a complex range of symptoms in their lifetimes. For both, a holiday can mean a welcome break – but also potentially a logistical headache.

As Gillian Pritchard, whose husband Bill has Alzheimer’s disease, put it after one short trip, “it took so much organising that, by the time we got back, I really just wanted to lie down for a week”. Striking the balance between the need for a real holiday and managing symptoms can be tough, but there’s help at hand from an increasing number of sources.

Plan to succeed

Forward-planning and flexibility might be the keys to a happy and relaxing trip, according to the experts. Symptoms can be exacerbated by infections and hospital admissions and “the family is best placed to say whether it’s the right time for that person to travel,” says dementia specialist admiral nurse Jane Colling.

Dementia UK’s free helpline (0800 888 6678) can offer support, while free video calls with admiral nurses can be organised at dementiauk.org/book-an-appointment.

Meanwhile, specialist providers and advisors can assist with holiday planning for a fee. Dr Carol Sargent, the founder of Sargent Group Consulting, which advises both operators and consumers on dementia-friendly travel, also offers free 30-minute consultations and a handy, downloadable 10-point checklist.

Although dementia can render decision-making difficult, Colling believes it’s a good idea to choose a destination together. But she suggests streamlining options to avoid overwhelm.

That destination will, of course, very much depend on individual circumstances – but travel insurance is crucial for those venturing abroad (make sure dementia is listed as a pre-existing condition).

If you’re heading to Europe, get a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which can be used for some state healthcare. Care UK also recommends asking a GP to help complete an Incapacitated Passengers Handling Advice Form and Medical Information Form, which can be used by airlines and operators to ensure that somebody with dementia gets the care they need while travelling.

Timing is another thing to take into account. Consider travelling outside peak times and seasons: Sargent suggests using Google to ascertain when attractions are at their quietest.

Bear in mind also that packing might be difficult, even for those with early-stage dementia. After a break to Malta that involved emergency sock shopping, Karen Blundell and her partner Clive Edmonds-Brown reinforced their preparations slightly.

“I know he’s got his packing list now,” she says. “And I then double-check it.”

Location, location, location

If peace and quiet are particularly prized, cruises or large resorts might have too much signage, noise and activities (though American operator Elite Cruises runs specialist trips with higher staff ratios, caregiver breaks and airport meet and greets). In the UK, Hoe Grange Holidays in the Peak District became the first recipient of a Sargent Group Dementia-inclusive Accreditation in 2024.

Its holiday lodges have ground-floor bedrooms and bathrooms and open-plan layouts with good visibility across living areas, while enclosed decking areas can help prevent wandering.

Near Stratford-Upon-Avon, four-star Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa recently worked with New Age Care to train staff on the different symptoms and types of dementia and put initiatives in place to help guests and their families. When Blundell and Edmonds-Brown stayed recently, its tailored approach included highlighted maps and meals in quiet corners of the restaurant.

“We learned that physical reflections can be hard,” says the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Laura Cherrington. “We had a dressing table that was near a window, so moved it very slightly to avoid any reflection. We put a picture of a toilet, a shower and a bath on the bathroom door to help with getting up in the night in an unfamiliar place. We have lovely chaise longues, but we made sure these were carefully placed so as to not be an obstacle.”

Those planning a hotel stay with parents or siblings might want to look at interconnecting rooms or apartments. Think carefully about properties that offer buffets, because crowds, a large choice and the need to carry your own plate back to the table can all present challenges. In these circumstances, Sargent suggests asking waiting staff if they can put together plates, or chat while the carer gets the food.

She believes that self-catering is often the easiest option, pointing out that this no longer means you have to cook your own food. Hoe Grange Holidays for instance has a list of local restaurants and pubs that offer collection or delivery.

For those who would like extra support, the not-for-profit Dementia Adventure arranges small group breaks in the UK and can help facilitate private trips too. It also runs free support sessions for family and friends and has a helpful guide to accessing support with the cost of a holiday.

Getting there

It’s worth utilising services provided by operators to make things as smooth as possible. In the UK, Pritchard swears by the National Rail Passenger Assist Scheme, which offers help with boarding, alighting, navigating stations and booking wheelchair-friendly spaces and seats onboard.

In September 2023, British Airways began a three-year partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society to train staff to support those living with dementia and their carers. But whichever the airline, it’s worth calling to discuss special assistance and arriving at the airport in plenty of time.

Arrange taxi travel via an expert service such as Driving Miss Daisy, whose drivers are dementia aware or, like Pritchard, use a familiar face. “Through a friend, I found an executive private driver and he can take us from my front door to a hotel. He’ll stop if we need to, because some days it’s fine and some days it’s not. It’s hard to predict,” she says.

What to pack

“If somebody’s got a door sensor at home, take that with you,” says Colling. “Or, if you’re concerned that they might get lost, they could wear a tracking device or have one in their pocket.

Have a photograph printed out, so that if they do get lost, you’ve got something to show people, and make sure you remember what they are wearing.” In the UK, it’s also worth filling out a Herbert Protocol form to help police search if a loved one goes missing.

And, if they are comfortable with the idea, those with dementia can wear sunflower lanyards devised for people with hidden disabilities.

No matter the preparations, a person with dementia may ask to go home if they feel anxious or confused. Both Colling and Sargent suggest a patient and gentle approach. “It’s about understanding what makes home home – because it’s not bricks and mortar,” says Sargent. Her mother, who had dementia, used to talk to her on FaceTime while away with her dad.

“Distraction can help,” adds Colling. “Particularly when short-term memory is gone, because the distress can be broken by going for a walk or doing something in a different environment.”

Though it undoubtedly involves more planning, experts stress that a holiday can be great for those with dementia and their loved ones. “It can be a really positive experience for the person living with dementia, but also for the carer, because they’re doing something special together,” says Colling.

“It can actually bring some confidence to the person with dementia as well. It can show that life is worth living and there are lots of opportunities out there, despite having a diagnosis.”