For years, Elvis fan Kath dreamed of visiting Graceland, the Memphis home of the King of Rock and Roll. It was a big goal, one that she outlined to her Lifeways support workers as part of her person-centred plan – and one that she was determined for achieve.
So, at home in Todmorden near Halifax, she saved really hard, and set about arranging her dream holiday. Kath, who has moderate learning disabilities, loves everything about Elvis and is always playing his music. First of all Kath, who is 48, went on a mini-break to Spain with her carers to ensure she enjoyed travelling by plane in order to prepare her for the long-haul trip to the United States. Finally, in April 2008, she touched down in America.
Senior Support Worker Alicia Jones, who accompanied her and two others, said: “Kath was so excited. We stayed in a hotel opposite Graceland in Memphis so that we were really close by. Kath can’t say Elvis so she calls him Sooty.
“I don’t think she realised where we were at first but when I told her we were at Sooty’s house, her face lit up – and I just welled up. It was a really emotional experience.
“She was overwhelmed because, where we were staying, everything was about Elvis, including the impersonators in downtown Beale Street. The whole trip was a really big achievement for her, from saving up and building up to the journey. She hasn’t stopped talking about it since we got back.”
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