Eight things to do with your elderly loved ones in Devon

The Jurassic Coast

No visit to Devon would be complete without a visit to the Jurassic Coast, world-renowned for its fossil beds and breathtaking cliffs.

If you or your loved one is up for a gentle walk there are a few scenic routes you can try. Salcombe Hill offers a chance to explore the Jurassic Coast from a series of well maintained and wheelchair accessible gravel paths.  There are benches along the route and a picnic area for rest stops. 

Durdle Door – the famous limestone arch may be a good option too. While those using wheelchairs or who are unsteady on their feet may not feel confident getting down to the beach, there is a clifftop viewpoint which is a great place to enjoy a picnic. This can be reached by all-terrain wheelchairs. There are also accessible toilets available in nearby holiday park.

Even a simple drive along the coast can be a tonic and a perfect way to take in this magnificent coastal scenery.

Exeter Cathedral

Located in the heart of the beautiful city of Exeter, the cathedral is one of the oldest and most impressive in the country. Apart from the roof space, the whole cathedral, including the shop and café, is accessible to those with limited mobility and you can book wheelchairs in advance.

Visits to religious buildings can often be a great source of comfort for older people with faith, especially if your loved one has little opportunity to get to services when at home and is receiving 24/7 care. Those receiving dementia care or Alzheimer’s care may reconnect with this element of their past through the prayers and music they hear while visiting.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Gallery

While visiting Exeter, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum is also worth a look. Entry is free, and there are 16 galleries, covering everything from local history, West Country silver and glassware to exotic birds, butterflies and animals.

Access is via a ramp at the Garden entrance, or there is a lift platform from the Queen Street entrance. Inside, there are also lifts and automatic doors, so wheelchair users can enjoy everything the museum has to offer. For those with hearing or vision issues, the museum has a hearing loop throughout, and offers a museum trail with BSL, audio and subtitles. 

Seaton Wetlands

Seaton Wetlands is the ideal way to get out into nature, and with two-and-a-half miles of beautiful trails along the River Axe and the surrounding marshlands, you and your loved ones will be able to enjoy a peaceful stroll. The entire site is accessible to those with mobility problems, and there are disabled parking and facilities.

Sometimes when older people are receiving live-in care from a caregiver or are in a residential home, they can feel cut off from the great outdoors. Seaton Wetlands will allow them to reconnect with nature, and looking out for the wide variety of birds and animals inhabiting the marshlands is great fun.

Bygones Museum

A museum sure to bring out a sense of nostalgia, Bygones in Torquay gives visitors the chance to travel back in time. There is a life-size Victorian street, including a sweet shop and apothecary, as well as a shopping arcade from the 1940s and 1950s. 

You can access the museum by a ramp, and there’s a delightful tea room for refreshments at the end of your visit, including some fantastic home-made cakes.

Babbacombe Model Village

Also in Torquay, Babbacombe Model Village is a big day out on a tiny scale. England’s past, present and future are captured in hundreds of miniature buildings and recreations of landmarks, and the whole site is accessible to wheelchair users. Even more magically, thousands of tiny lights are lit at dusk, making an evening visit a beautiful way to round off your day.

Find a farm shop

Devon has a proud history of exceptional food and drink. For a leisurely day out, find a farm shop with a café and enjoy time together sampling the local produce. Occombe Farm near Paignton has an excellent cafe and deli, as well as nature trail and plenty of animals to meet.

However long you plan to spend in Devon with your elderly loved ones, you’ll have the choice of a wide range of great days out. Spending quality time together is important for all of you, and where better to do it than in this beautiful county.