Learning disabilities Ian’s love for travelling!
Ian is a 78-year-old person we support at Riverside and Roseberry Lodges. He has mild learning disabilities and bipolar personality disorder, meaning he requires support with everyday living.
In October 2007, Ian moved into his new flat at our specialist care home in Middlesbrough, becoming the third person ever to live at Riverside and Roseberry Lodges… and he’s never looked back!
With the support of his expert team, Ian has made incredible progress over the years, and now lives as independently as possible!
Throughout his time at Riverside and Roseberry Lodges, Ian has discovered passions and interests he didn’t know he had, including a love for travelling – particularly to Benidorm. When Ian first mentioned taking a trip abroad, his support team were unsure about Ian making such a big journey. However, always committed to supporting him to achieve his dreams, they made suitable arrangements so Ian could confidently go on holiday!
Now, Ian’s visited Benidorm three times and plans to go back again. With the support of his team, his trips are planned down to every detail, ensuring all his needs are met. So, Ian is free to soak up the sun and splash around in the sea!
Finding the perfect holiday
When planning Ian’s first holiday, the team’s top priority was choosing the right location. With Ian’s input, they explored various destinations before settling on Benidorm – a perfect choice! The flight was short, and the location offered plenty of activities, from picturesque sunset walks on the beach to relaxing afternoons by the pool.
Next, they had to find a hotel that met Ian’s specific needs. Key requirements included a quiet atmosphere, accessible rooms, and – at Ian’s request – great entertainment! As Ian has gotten older, his mobility has decreased, making accessibility essential. He also needed a calm environment, as his learning disabilities make him sensitive to loud and busy spaces. The right hotel was crucial to ensuring Ian had the perfect holiday experience.
After thorough research, Ian and his support team chose the Flamingo Oasis. This family-friendly hotel doesn’t cater to stag or hen parties, ensuring a peaceful stay. It also offered plenty of entertainment, allowing Ian to have fun without feeling overwhelmed. An added bonus was the adult-only section, providing a quiet retreat whenever he needed it.
Paul, a Support Worker accompanying Ian, had stayed at the Flamingo Oasis twice before. His familiarity with the hotel reassured the team that it was the perfect choice, setting the stage for an unforgettable trip.
After selecting the ideal hotel, they confirmed the details with Ian’s family, ensuring it had everything he needed for a perfect holiday.
Happy with their choice, the team booked the trip! To help Ian prepare for his holiday, the team printed out photos of his upcoming destination. Ian couldn’t contain his excitement, showing off the photos to everyone in his support team, his family, friends, and even builders working down the street!
Preparing for take off
Filled with excitement, Ian couldn’t wait to jet off to sunny Benidorm. Support Worker Paul began setting everything in place and planning for their upcoming trip. Together, they used the TUI website to complete a cost breakdown, which was then sent to Ian’s Care Manager for approval. They then waited with eager anticipation while this was reviewed, and luckily, it was approved!
With everything falling into place, excitement was building, and Ian was enjoying each and every part of the process! Paul compiled a list of everything he would need to pack for Ian and collected all of his relevant documents in a concise folder, making it easy to check they had everything they needed.
Next, Ian and some members of his team headed down to the travel agents to collect the travel documents. This was a fabulous day out for Ian. He loved talking to the travel agents about his upcoming holiday, and he also treated himself to a celebratory coffee after his holiday was fully booked and finalised!
From Ian’s point of view, the planning process was simple! He couldn’t wait to buy new clothes and to jet off. However, the team were working hard to ensure his holiday ran seamlessly, making lots of phone calls to Care Managers and the TUI office to ensure no detail was missed. Along the way, Ian was kept informed at each planning stage, so he was aware of everything happening in the background.
Counting down the days to fly away!
As the holiday approached, Ian’s excitement grew. Every day, he checked his calendar, counting down to his departure. As the big day neared, his team joined in, marking off each passing day and adding to the anticipation!
In preparation for his holiday, Ian’s favourite activity holiday was heading over to his local shop to change his money into Euros. A true social butterfly, he loved chatting to the staff members about his upcoming trip abroad!
No holiday is complete without a new wardrobe, and this holiday was no exception! The wonderful team at Riverside and Roseberry Lodges supported Ian to shop for some new holiday clothes. These clothes were packed straight away… with the exception of his new travel outfit, which was kept separately in his room. Ian insisted that he wouldn’t touch or use his new clothes, as they were “holiday clothes only”!
With his new clothes packed away and his travel documents safely tucked in a folder, Ian was all ready to go!
Exploring Benidorm
Over the years, Ian shared with his team that he had a slight fear of flying. To help ease his worries, they sat with him, explaining how take-off and landing are brief moments and showing him videos to prepare him for the journey.
As his excitement grew, his fear began to fade. With the support of the team at Riverside & Roseberry Lodges, he now looks forward to settling into his seat with a coffee in hand. Knowing his team is there for him, he holds on to them during take-off and landing – but he especially loves gazing out the window, watching the world go by.
Once Ian got to Benidorm, he was thriving! His favourite part about being on holiday was meeting up with other members of his support team who were also there. He finds comfort in knowing he’s spending time with people he’s familiar with, and he loves sharing new experiences with them!
Whilst in Benidorm, Ian had so much fun trying new things. Ian and Paul loved going to the beach for some peaceful coastal walks. A keen coffee lover, sampling the local cafes was also a must! In the evenings, Ian enjoyed visiting local pubs to watch football matches on TV – he loved soaking up the atmosphere of being surrounded by other football fanatics! The local sports bars and restaurants were great at accommodating the needs of people with learning disabilities, and made Ian feel safe and comfortable.
Ian also loved to go and see the tribute acts at a local dinner and show bar -his favourite was Rod Stewart! When he recognised the songs, he sang along and had a little dance.
However, his favourite place to visit in Benidorm was the ‘Benidorm Palace’, a local concert hall, just a short distance from his hotel. Along with his support team, he would get dressed up to go and see the acts on stage.
Since his first trip to Benidorm in 2014, Ian’s been back twice. Travelling gives him something to look forward to, and the preparation and planning involved also gives him a sense of purpose and added independence.
Adapting to changing needs
As Ian gets older, his physical health and age have become a factor in what he can do when he goes on holiday. Quickly becoming tired, he also suffers from back pain. If he stands or moves around for long periods of time, he might start to experience some discomfort.
However, his support team know this shouldn’t stop him from doing all the things he loves. After all, that’s what makes life so fulfilling. With every trip, they’re always looking to find new ways to manage Ian’s evolving needs, ensuring travel is still on the cards.
Luckily, Ian’s favourite destination is infamous for their wheelchair service! Benidorm offers lots of wheelchair rental services to tourists and, because this is so popular, the area is extremely wheelchair accessible. The local beach is mainly flat, so Ian can still take the walks he enjoys, and then use a wheelchair to visit various shops and local cafes – just like he did before… there’s no stopping him!
Adapting Ian’s holidays to suit his needs is essential to support him in living his dreams and experiencing life to the fullest. After all, Ian wouldn’t be himself without being able to visit his favourite place in the world!
Find out more!
To find out more about our learning disabilities support and how we can help you, a loved one, or a client, fill out our simple enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch.
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