WHAT WE LEARNT

It helped that we had visited the area previously as it meant navigating our way around was stressfree.

In retrospect, handwritten signs attached to internal doors might have helped George find his way around the house. If staying in a hotel, book out of season and let staff know a member of the party has dementia.

Consider the needs of all members of the group when booking accommodation.

Restaurant staff can be helpful if you discreetly advise them of the situation on arrival.

Ensure the person with dementia has adequate travel insurance and medication is carried in hand luggage.

Music, singing and laughter can help leave happy memories of your time away.

To learn more about Dementia Action Week (May 21-27), see: alzheimers.org.uk

house for the duration of our stay, surprised us by keeping score and winning games. Bat in hand, he was resurgent. But there were painful reminders of the changes to come.

In an age fuelled by almost one billion Instagram feeds, the pressure to make lasting memories, especially on holiday, has never been more acute. I watched one morning as Edward and George posed for selfies in the garden. Afterwards, George had studied the images of father and son, before asking: “Who are they?”

Days started with a leisurely al fresco breakfast, followed by afternoons exploring the area: Gordes, Sénanque Abbey and Avignon were all high points. With each new experience, George became brighter. Edward and I, used to dashing about on holiday, revelled in the slower pace. George also helped us appreciate the little things: the cloudless blue sky fascinated him and lifted his mood.

People lose their inhibitions on holiday as they cast off the stresses of everyday life, but I hadn’t expected nudity: I walked into my bedroom to find George drying himself after a shower on a sheet he had pulled from our bed. I became adept at averting my gaze.

Evenings were spent immersed in music, which is known to raise the spirits of those with Alzheimer’s. Via the wonder of YouTube, we took George and Ivy on a trip down memory lane as they rediscovered the music that had formed the soundtrack to their courtship almost 65 years ago.

Staying in a house, as opposed to a hotel, also meant that Edward, our chef for the week, could cook simple dishes to accommodate George’s changing tastes. Wine had previously been an important part of holidays but George’s dementia meant alcohol was off limits. Rather than repeatedly explaining that he shouldn’t drink, we opted for alcohol-free beer. It was one of our healthiest holidays to date.

Edward and I knew it would require effort on

Bat in hand, George was resurgent. But there were painful reminders of the changes to come