A respite holiday is a boost for Toni
It’s wELL known that isolation and loneliness can affect our health and wellbeing. toni, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, lived with her mother, who died in 2020. she was comforted after her loss by a stay with a respite holiday provider. Her keyworker sister had moved in with her, but had to work during the festive season, so toni (above) faced spending much of that first Christmas without her mum alone. Managing her diabetes with daily insulin injections was also proving to be challenging. ‘I felt like my brain was always behind and trying to catch up,’ she says. struggling with her grief and feelings of debilitating anxiety, as well as the challenge of making new contacts, she reached out to respite charity Revitalise. toni came to one of their centres, where the expert team there boosted her confidence, while offering a relaxed and welcoming environment. she returned for her second Christmas there in December. toni says: ‘It’s the most brilliant centre I have ever been to — my confidence has grown a lot. ‘Don’t hesitate, just come, because you know when you do come here that you get a break from everything.’ the purpose-built holiday centres in Essex and southport offer disabled people a fun and relaxing holiday experience, backed-up by the reassurance of expert care, alongside activities, live evening entertainment and quality full-board hospitality. these breaks give disabled people the opportunity to switch off. they can choose to visit for a holiday with a carer or on their own, safe in the knowledge that they are in excellent hands.