Holidays away from home can be especially challenging. Carers often tell us that planning family vacations can be difficult, as their loved one may have a very rigid routine and feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar environments and different food options. When a person goes away on holiday alone, carers may worry about how they will take care of themselves.

What are the Challenges?

Carers shared about the challenges they experience supporting someone during the Summer Holidays in this session of Conversations with Carers. Some of the main challenges included:

• Person going on holiday by themselves
• Collaborating on a shared goal to work towards for the summer holidays
• Carers wanting to go on a family holiday, but the person doesn’t
• Trying to increase their person’s independence
• More body image issues, struggling with summer clothing

What’s Helpful?

• If your loved one is going on holiday by themselves, carers recommend planning ahead. For example, if they’re attending a summer camp or going to the Gaeltacht, consider contacting the organisers in advance to explain the situation and arrange any necessary supports. It can also help to have fallback options in case your person becomes very distressed, such as calling home, and to share with the organisers on what to say (or avoid saying), particularly around mealtimes. Carers also suggest packing some of your loved one’s safe foods for consistency.
• Another helpful suggestion from carers is to bring some structure to the unstructured days of summer. This might involve planning activities that help your person stay connected with friends or engage in hobbies, or setting a small goal to work towards. Carers often find that summer can be a good time to gently experiment with new ideas or encourage a bit more independence. For example, by supporting your person to prepare their own snacks.
• If you’re finding it difficult to plan a holiday and are concerned about how your loved one will manage without you, carers suggest starting small. For example, try a one-night trip close to home, and plan in advance who will be there to support them, and what meals and activities are planned. For family holidays, carers recommend choosing something manageable, like a short city break. Booking an apartment can be a helpful option, as it allows your person to bring their safe foods and their own cooking utensils if eating out feels too overwhelming.
• Summer can also bring increased body image concerns. Carers highlighted the importance of encouraging your person to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable, rather than feeling pressured to wear certain types of summer clothing. They also spoke about the value of having open, supportive conversations that promote a more positive and accepting body image.