Parents of children with PMLD - what do you do for holidays?

[saltyseadog]

We're just back early from a week in Wales with 6 year old dd - it was so grim.

Dd unhappy about being out of her routine so did nothing but squawk and moan from dawn to dusk (really), and now that she is getting bigger the accomodation that we'd used previously (cottage with ground floor bedroom and bathroom) just isn't enough. We need hoists etc. This is on top of having to change pooey nappies in the footwell of our van on our way there and back.

Feel very depressed (not to mention bitter and twisted) that we will never ever get a normal holiday . I'd be really interested to know how other people manage this. Where do you go? (or do you not go at all )?

PMLD is profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Thanks justabout - the Cerebra holiday home looks great (I have just filled in the form to join Cerebra so that we can apply). As dd is severely disabled I suspect that we'd qualify.

The Cerebra holiday home is great but apparently the waiting list is around 2 years .

I have herd great things about Butlins to.

We are off to Cornwall on Sunday to a small caravan site (nice and quite), last year we went to Park resorts which was hard work and a bit to noisy.

Both my dd's have ASD, dd1 has low muscle tone but is very able, dd2 is still in nappies, i find it hard work going any where as there is never any where to change dd2 and she's too big to fit on a changing table, i often change her in the boot of the car but its a bit tricky when the boot is full up.

we always use hoseasons(dd hasn't got PMLD) but is severely disabled.
I have only ever sen the calcot trust that has hoists and activities

Centre Parcs is also good if you can afford it - we go out of season and they have disabled chalets etc

we always do Hoseasons Lodges with ds Quad CP, and have been to the Calvert Trust Centre at Kielder, which is bookable through Hoseasons or direct with the centre.
it is very well equipped, accessible and caters for every member of the family of any ability, the also have centres in Keswick and Exmoor

Calvert Trust

Thanks everyone. Feeling a bit cheerier about it all today.

I have friends who've been to the Calvert Trust who speak really highly of it, so I think we need to take a look at there as an option.

I'll also look at Hoseasons and Centre Parcs, I didn't realise that they had disability friendly chalets.

The crux of it will be to find a holiday that dd enjoys - if we can crack that then she will (hopefully) be happier and the moaning will stop. Fingers crossed.

Glad your feeling brighter salty. Our pmld foster son is 19 now and we tried everywhere over the years. Calvert trust and bendrigg lodge in the lake district is fantastic, with accessible activities in abundance. However it can be expensive if you have a large family. We tried centre parks this year and though the accommodation was ok (we took our own hoist), it had a hospital bed but the sides were too low. You are not allowed to use your vehicles around the parks and the accessible accommodation was the furthest from the centre. The pathways are not wheelchair freindly and it is deadly at night as the lighting is so poor. The pool was totally innaccessible, with inadequate changing and no hoist. Cost us over £1,000 for 3 nights. We finally bit the bullit and took out a huge loan to have a caravan purpose built for him and sited it only an hour away from home as he is just too big now to change on the floor of his vehicle. It is such a struggle to find activities that suit his needs. You could try Harriet Davis Trust it has all singing all dancing accommodation. Been built by a family who know what children with complex needs actually need. Good Luck

£1K for three nights ! Thanks for the feedback thebells, it's really useful. One of the reasons that we'd want to go to CP is to use the pool, as dd loves swimming, so it's a shame that they don't have a hoist into the pool (considering that they have disabled access lodges)!

Hospital bed sides will be too low for our dd too - whilst she cannot walk/ sit unsupported she is able to kneel and then push herself forwards which would mean that she would quickly be out of a low sided bed. Arrgh - it's so difficult.

I've just had a look at The HD Trust - thanks for that too .

This is an interesting thread - we just about cope atm by going on holiday either to relatives or with another (related) family - two if us can lift dd2 into a bath etc.

I assume we'll be in the same boat as you all in a couple of years. We haven't flown anywhere for years - just too difficult as I assume they will want the child out of the wheelchair in a plane seat?

The Harriet Davis trust looks really good - I can't see prices? Is it expensive?

For anyone who could get together with a few other families, Calvert Trust Kielder are doing an offer for first time visitors, its only on for the next two weeks now though

£100 per person for two night break with activities included, minimum of 10 people required

seating wise a lot of airlines use this travel chair if the child cant sit unsupported, you can also hire one yourself for £125 or buy one for £650 if you do a lot of airline travel

Virgin will supply one or and harness long ax you inform them on booking