When you are living with dementia it’s crucial to get out and enjoy as much of life as you possibly can. Days out can often seem daunting for both caregivers and those with dementia, but they need not be. With some planning and forethought, there’s so much that can be seen and enjoyed.
Care UK has an an extremely useful guide that helps people living with dementia and their carers plan days out
Good to go: A guide to dementia-friendly days out
The Good to go guide gives you tips on things to do, different places to go, the essentials that you will need to take with you and how to overcome issues that might arise.
Here is a quick guide to get you started
- Involve the person with dementia in the planning of your outing, ask them if there is somewhere in particular they would like to go.
- Don’t be over ambitious. Start small and work you way up from there. Maybe begin with a short or walk or car journey to a local park, museum or exhibition and then progress to more adventurous excursions that could last all day.
- Planning is key, but don’t discount going with the moment when appropriate, if somebody wants to go for a walk there and then, do it if you can.
- Think about the journey, long periods of time in a car may cause agitation for some, so make sure there places to stop along the way if need be.
- Make sure everyone has some form of ID. Both the caregiver and the person with dementia should carry something that has all their details including photograph and phone numbers.
Good Morning
I would like to know if you have activities/walks on the area of Keynsham and Bath?
Thank you
My brother is in a care home, he has nil mental capacity, he knows me,my sister,and our husbands. Is it right to take him out,I have taken to a park, just round the corner from his home, he enjoyed it, but my sister doesn’t agree with me and gets annoyed with me. What’s your opinion?
If he is mobile and willing to go with you it Is unlikely to do him any harm, in fact just the opposite. It’s important to ensure that his carers feel it’s appropriate to take him out as well. As for your sister, you may have different views on what is best for him, if that is the case you can try to explain to her your reasons for doing what you do and hope that she understands – it’s important to try to continue to communicate with her, even if you disagree at times