Carol Sargent, of Sargent Group Consulting, shares her August plans!

August is upon us – it’s the month of holidays, summer fun and time off for many people. It’s also the time of the Olympics (from July 26) and the Paralympics (from August 28).

So how are small business owners coping with the month often known as ‘silly season’?

Today is the turn of Dr Carol Sargent, founder and consultant for Sargent Group Consulting, who open the world of travel and tourism for dementia community, older adults and people with visible and invisible disabilities by providing advice on how to overcome the barriers that stop people travelling and how to make travel and hospitality businesses more inclusive.

How is August looking in your business? Does this month hold any special significance in your business? Anniversary, milestone, accreditation, new premises? New staff? 
August is the month of summer holidays and is frequently when people with dementia and those living with other invisible disabilities long to be able to go on holiday just like everybody else

What are your personal plans for this month? 
I am catching up with lots of old friends who are also celebrating their 60th birthday this year in Yorkshire and Scotland. I am really excited to be attending the Aged Care Conference in Bali at the end of the month and speaking about holidays as a prescription for the treatment of dementia. Then I am going on to visit the Aashaya Jasri resort  in Bali, the first resort developed for people living with dementia and other neurocognitive conditions, which will be welcoming its first visitors in September.

What advice/tips would you give to small business owners trying to navigate the ‘holiday’ period? 
Remember if your service or products are relevant to older adults, consider targeting these customers as they won’t be away on holiday and probably have the time to consider some alternative things.

It’s the Olympics or Paralympics this month – any thoughts, memories or relevance to you or your business or organisation this month? 
For me the paralympics are particularly inspiring as they showcase how people use their skills and overcome risks to live their best lives. I am in awe of the skills the Paralympians have and the solutions they have identified to perform their sports at such an amazing level. I would like society to see the dementia community in a similar light and recognise what could be achieved to allow people to live their best lives by the relevant support to navigate what can be very challenging and frustrating circumstances. 

August 13 is International Left Handers Day. Are you left-handed and what issues, if any, have you ever had around being left handed? 
I am left handed and have always found it interesting trying to learn certain things from people who are right handed. I think that’s why I always throw things with my right hand and play racket sports with my left. I definitely find being left-handed is an advantage for sports, but not so sure about handwriting, knitting or sewing!

August 20 is World Photo Day. Can you share a photo as an attachment which means something to you this year so far? 
After visiting South America and Antarctica in February this photo of A23A iceberg, highlights to me just how fragile our planet is. It’s the size of greater London, would only just fit in the English Channel and is now 430 km north of Antarctica. Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean we can carry on regardless. 

Did you know August 21 is World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you and do you apply it to yourself? 
It’s a person who is able to create and develop a service or product that makes a difference to people’s lives. As an entrepreneur I empower people to provide personalised advice and support which enables people diagnosed with dementia,  their family, friends and professionals to live their best lives together through travel.

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out too? Who has gone the extra mile for you recently?
Birmingham Airport for the additional support they have given people with invisible disabilities. Their refurbishments have improved their signage for sunflower lanyards going through security and passport control.

Their staff were providing everybody with a sunflower lanyard additional support when their luggage was being checked to ensure the start of their journey was as stress free as possible

Have you got any services or special offers you’d like to mention?
Everybody deserves a holiday, particularly those diagnosed with dementia and their amazing unpaid family carers. As September is World Alzheimer’s month Sargent Group Consulting are offering our services at 50% off.

For £125 + VAT people can access our knowledge and experience, to select their holiday with confidence. 

Sign up for our free 30-minute introductory session to take advantage of this offer https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/dashboard

You can find out more about Sargent Group Consulting by visiting https://sargentgroup.consulting/