How to plan a dementia-friendly day out

Organising a dementia-friendly day out doesn’t have to be overwhelming! We’ve put together some of our top tips to make it completely achievable.

Caring for someone with dementia is complex and even daily tasks may need more forethought and planning. But it is still possible to enjoy a dementia-friendly day out with your loved one.

We’ve put together some tips to help you organise a successful day out.

Visit a place with meaning

For people living with dementia, visiting a place from their past can be reassuring for them. Often, short term memories go first, meaning they usually recall their earlier stages of life.

Taking a trip down Memory Lane and visiting their childhood village or favourite town can be a great way to engage them.

Dementia clubs

There are so many support groups and activity clubs out there for people living with dementia and their loved ones. Therefore, it’s important to find one that suits you.

Most local areas will have a dementia group or Memory Cafe where people living with dementia and their carers can meet up, share experiences and socialise. This can not only help your loved one stay social, but can also connect you to people living through a similar experience.

You can find support and activities on both the Age UK and Alzheimer’s Society websites.

All Brendoncare’s community clubs both in person and online are dementia-friendly.  If you’d like to find out more about our clubs, you can get in touch on 01962 857099 or at clubs@brendoncare.org.uk

Keep it calm

For people living with dementia, it can feel overwhelming and disorientating to be in crowded, noisy places so choosing somewhere with this in mind is important.

Try a museum or art gallery. There is always plenty to look at to stimulate the mind, but they tend to be much quieter and therefore less overwhelming.

Get outdoors

Keeping in mind a quiet setting, why not head outdoors? Getting some fresh air and stretching your legs is important for not only your loved one but for you as well.

Why not take a stroll through a quiet country park, or head over to a National Trust site? In 2019, the National Trust announced a 3 year partnership with Alzheimer’s Society.

The aim of this is to make more of their sites dementia friendly through upskilling their staff and making sites more accessible.

Go on holiday

This might seem impossible but thanks to organisations like Dementia Adventure and Dementia UK, it’s completely achievable.

Dementia Adventure offer UK breaks designed for people living with dementia and their families. Dementia UK offer support and advice on supporting someone with dementia to go on holiday. It’s still so important to make memories and have new experiences. With support from organisations like this, it is possible.

With these tips in mind, planning a dementia-friendly day out shouldn’t feel like a daunting task. At Brendoncare, we also offer respite care in some of our homes as well as dedicated dementia care.

Please do get in touch on 0300 303 4866 or at homes@brendoncare.org.uk