Has anyone any great holiday suggestions. My hubby has PD and after10 years he now has very poor mobility but still likes to walk whenever possible.He also has Lewy Bodies dementia but is in no way a difficult person to care for. We always used to have an autumn/winter holiday in the sunshine but are now dependant on being able to take helpers with us. We would really love to be able to go on our own again. What we need is a hotel where we can 'buy in ' local care workers or something similar. But we are also pretty fussy and would appreciate somewhere really nice. Coast would be lovely but not absolutely essential. We always loved Cyprus and parts of Spain in particular Nerja or nearby. We have never been to Portugal but would love to try it. Have also thought of cruises but I find the idea a little claustrophobic, but would be happy to be proved wrong.
Gran Canaria was ok for sunshine though we are not over keen on the big holiday resort thing.
We go to France whenever possible in summer and rent Gites.
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mattiesmum
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If you are requiring a carer I feel sure you will be able to hire one from an agency to go along on the trip
Have you thought of asking a neighbour, friend or family to come with you for the time to help do the caring (paid for) If it was someone your husband knew it might make it all that easier.
If you booked care at the holiday place you never know what you might get.
There are also lots of UK seaside towns that are flat to make life easier.
Thank-you for replying. The thing is we really both want to go on holiday without taking carers along as well. We manage fine at home with just some help in the morning to shower B, and I do everything else. I do take your point about not knowing what you might get, which is why I was wondering if anyone else had done anything similar. Also we definitely want to go somewhere warm. Thank-you again for taking the trouble to reply, Best wishes to you.
I have also had Parkinson's for over ten years and mobility can be a problem at times. My husband and I have found river cruises to be a good way of having a holiday. I don't like the idea of these great big liners or days at sea. We take a wheelchair with us - no problem.If there is a day when I don't feel up to much, my husband is able to go on the tour and the boat carries on with me on the top enjoying the scenery as we go along. The cabins are comfortable. The food is very good. The staff are very helpful and kind and, you don't get seasick! We will be going on our fifth at the beginning of October for our anniversary. Let me know if you want any more info.
Yes I agree that cruises are ideal. My husband has both parkinsons and dementia and I have to shower and dress him. However we find that the staff on every cruise ship we have been on have been most helpful. He doesn't need a wheelchair whilst on the ship but we always get on whilst embarking and disembarking. It gives me a break from cooking even though we cannot do all the things we used to do whilst on board. Plenty of exercise walking round the ship.
This may not be relevant to your situation as you want to go abroad but it may be of interest to others wanting to holiday in the UK. If you receive care from your local authority it is possible to transfer the care package to the local authority of your holiday destination. If the care you receive is free or part funded you can arrange free or part funded care on holiday. My mother in law has advanced PD and when she went on holiday last month a local care organisation attended her 4 times a day just as her regular carers would at home. No charge. This is ideal in self catering accommodation and works in hotels and B&B's with the cooperation of the owner/ manager.
Incidentally our own experience might be useful to others too.My husbands care is funded by the PCT as he has continuing health care needs. I am responsible for the vast majority of his care but we do have 2 carers every morning to help. We were also given 3days/ nights per month respite which we originally tried to use through a respite care home. I have to be honest it was awful and when I collected B afterwards he was distraught.
But one of our home carers is exceptionally good so I asked if he could care for B in our own home and to my surprise it was agreed.
Sometimes we use these breaks and make it a weekend away for both of us with full support so we can enjoy ourselves. On other occasions I go away for a few days on my own and we have also booked a hotel for B and his carer in the Lake District for 3 nights. Obviously we pay all the hotel costs, travel etc. etc. and are very lucky that we can do so. (Honestly we are not hugely affluent, we just prefer to spend money on breaks instead of other things)
A couple of years ago as we had become very good friends with our carer I decided to bite the bullet and ask if we could arrange a holiday, putting 3 of the respite breaks together and also using the daily care allowance. S. our carer was delighted to do this and our PCT worker agreed to it and it has been absolutely fantastic. We rented a gite each year and S. brought his partner along who paid his own costs. All in all it has been a great success and I would recommend it to anyone who has a reasonably gregarious nature and enjoys other peoples company.
But despite all that we would dearly love a nice romantic break on our own in a nice hotel somewhere warm. I can manage perfectly well with the minimum of care for B, But with no care at all it wouldn't be a holiday!
It may be that some people will think I am being seriously greedy but we do save every spare penny for our holidays and absolutely love seeing new places.
Sorry this is very long!!! Hope it's of use to somebody.
Thank you for your post. I find myself planning a getaway for a few days or a week but when the time arrives to go it is then I become "fearful" of the trip because of the grip PD has on me. I never know when I will shake, can't walk, lots of pain, or can't even sit at a table and eat. So usually we do not go. ~~Dennis
That is sad Dennis. B. tends to get terribly anxious before we go anywhere even if it is just to our sons home. But on the other hand he loves it once we have got over the first day. He also likes the anticipation so long as we are several weeks away from actually going. I suppose he is fortunate that I can do all the arrangements and I know how he prefers to travel etc etc
we most frequently rent somewhere these days, even if it is a caravan, because it means if we choose to we can have complete privacy for meals etc. But we do both like to go out and eat as well and sometimes this can be a bit hair raising because B. chokes very easily and I have to deal with that, But we have almost always found people to be extremely kind and helpful and the few who are not are certainly not worth bothering about!!
I do wish that there was a way that you could enjoy a break because I see such a difference in B, even after just a few days. Though I must say that in his case he benefits from a longer break best so that he has plenty of time to get over his anxieties and relax. Good luck for the future.
Most cruise lines have special cabins for wheelchair passengers. We have never had one but I believe they are larger and equiped for those using them. I am sure if you phoned the cruise line they would willingly give you all the details.
My favourite trip since being diagnosed was to Lake Garda in Italy in October. The weather was perfect. Lots of flat accessible areas around the beautiful Lake. Not many people there in October.The Italians are very friendly and helpful. WE went on bus trips into the snow 'capped Dolomites and to Verona where there is a Coleseum in better shape than Rome's.
I would highly recommend the disney cruiseto the Bahamas. We flew to Florida, Delta airlines met me with a wheel chairin atlanta and got me to my next flight.Anything I needed from the cruise ship was given to me with a smile such as a rubber mat for the tub and also an on board wheel chair. disney owns itsd own privat island, they have wheel chairs for the beach too. the trip was phenominal the disney dream ship was magnificant. disney and delta airlines out did themselves on customer service.
As a PDP for some 13 years and at the age of 77, I have been on several cruises and can recommend them as relaxing holidays. There is always plenty to do, but there is no obligation to join in if it suits you. You can just relax, either by the pool or in one of the lounges or go to the cinema. Excursions are available at each port of call and there is always at least one which just involves a sightseeing coach ride, or similar. Meal times are flexible and you don't have to be "formal" if you prefer to dress casually -you just eat in the buffet or have room service. The room service is useful for PD sufferers who can't get going very quickly in the morning.
I have a folding scooter which I take on board since I also have osteo-arthritis and it is a boon for getting around the ship. The crew are very helpful and take special care with people who are disabled and need special attention.
We prefer P&O cruises, but others have their merits. Our particular joy is that we live in Hampshire and sail from Southampton, so the holiday begins when the taxi arrives - we don't have to deal with luggage until we are on board in our cabin. I believe there are coaches from various parts of the UK to transport passengers to and from Southampton.
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