Working to become Dementia Friendly...

A Hotel that helps create holidays for people with dementia and their carers...

According to the Alzheimer's Society there are around 800,000 people in the UK with dementia. One in three people over 65 will develop it, and two-thirds of people with dementia are female.

With these outstanding statistics, there are many of us who have been touched by dementia; last year I sadly lost my Nana, who for four years had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Seeing firsthand the impact it had on Nana and our family’s lives left a lasting impact, and so I decided that if I could, I wanted to help others in some small way.

In June 2015, I met with Claire Puckey from Plymouth City Council. Claire is the Dementia Friendly City Co-ordinator; her role is to raise awareness and understanding of dementia through delivering the dementia friends awareness sessions  and supporting businesses, organisations and schools to work towards becoming dementia friendly, and also by supporting and promoting the work of the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance (PDAA). We discussed what we could do at the hotel to support their campaign. This led to an action plan, some up skilling on my part and then awareness raising sessions for staff booked in for October this year.

A POPULAR hotel for many, and a family who for over 30 years have had a main priority to support their guests have the very best experiences, they have always proactively supported everyone with their bespoke requirements – an example is that they are one of few hotels that have brail on their bedroom doors. So, no strangers to always striving to accommodate others, we have now taken these steps to become dementia-friendly – and everyone is thrilled to support not only the guests and their carers, but also to raise the profile of a condition that impacts so many.

All of our Heads of Departments at The New Continental Hotel are working towards becoming dementia friends and are aiming to make all of their staff, guests and the community of Plymouth more aware of the disease.

Taking a break can be beneficial to everyone, though there are additional considerations for people with dementia and carers. Going on holiday often requires careful planning for people affected by dementia. However, getting away from it all can still provide a welcome break as well as new and enjoyable experiences. Although we are unable to make massive changes, the small changes we can make we hope will make a massive difference.  People just being able to spend quality time together matters, and if we are all always striving to make life a better place, then tomorrow really will look better than today. 

“Individuals with dementia and their carers have said “It was wonderful when we found out that where we planned to go on holiday had a dementia friendly hotel. It made a good holiday turn into a wonderful experience”. The New Continental endeavours to support and empower people with dementia and their carers to have a relaxed, enjoyable and unique experience.” Ian Sherriff PDAA Chairman

More information can be found on dementia friendly holidays here.

For more information on the work of the PDAA:

For information on groups, activities and other support available for people living with dementia and their carers in Plymouth.