Carol and her fellow consultants envision a time when a diagnosis of dementia is seen as a new and different phase of life, rather than the final phase of life. We want to work together to bring more accessible services across sectors so industry, government, health, social care, charitable organisations and people living with chronic conditions can thrive together to live their best lives.
It is too often the case that people living with dementia and other chronic illnesses are defined by those conditions. All of our consultants are driven by a desire to change the negative perceptions around dementia and dispel the fears surrounding a diagnosis. We do this by working with organisations to improve existing services and highlight new services so the dementia community can continue to live their lives to the full.
Our founder’s combination of scientific background, business acumen and hands-on experience working with people living with dementia and their loved ones means she has a unique insight into where the needs of this group intersect with the needs and abilities of the travel, tourism and hospitality sector. This makes her perfectly placed to support businesses to confidently welcome this increasingly large market into their establishments.
Dr Sargent enjoyed an extensive career in pharmaceutical science as both a scientist and project manager for international giants such as AstraZeneca and Merck, researching the physical outcomes of chronic diseases and working at an international level at sites in the UK, France, Sweden and the US. This period of her career included five years as a consultant for large drug companies looking at business opportunities that could best support disease intervention.
Carol moved away from this when both her mother and mother-in-law were diagnosed with dementia, so she could care for them. As a family carer she combined her natural scientific outlook and years of research experience with empathy and curiosity to learn how improvements could be made and solutions provided for her family.
In 2014, she switched careers and founded MindforYou, an organisation that planned and delivered specialist, fully-supported holidays for people living with dementia and their family carers. During this time, she amassed a huge amount of knowledge and expertise in the practical delivery of holidays, days out and hospitality for the dementia community.
Working with experts in the field, Carol developed social impact measurements, set up focus groups and spoke at length with carers about their challenges. This culminated in contributions to Visit England and Visit Scotland Business Support Guide on Dementia-Friendly tourism, presentation of health and wellbeing evidence at the UK Dementia Congress in 2019 and the inclusion of dementia as a reviewer in the disabled access review guide, Euan’s Guide.
Post-pandemic, Carol successfully led the conversion of the organisation to a charitable cooperative and fundraised to help restart and grow the holiday provision for this market, resulting in a total raise of £465K.
Seeing the huge difference that MindforYou made to its clients over the years, Carol passionately wanted more people to be able to benefit from this kind of provision and so, in December 2022, she stepped away from the organisation to work with the mainstream travel, tourism and hospitality sector. In March 2023, she launched Sargent Group Consulting to support the industry in being able to confidently welcome the dementia community into their establishments.
Since then, Dr Sargent has developed several exciting and successful collaborations and brought additional key consultants into the business. She has also enlisted the involvement of charities and distributors. Sargent Group Consulting is now in a robust position to deliver comprehensive consultancy to the travel, tourism and hospitality sector.
In collaboration with our consultant Aimee, Carol has established a range of ways the global dementia community can support one another, to continue to enjoy travel, tourism and hospitality, to have a voice whilst raising awareness ofspecific improvements that can be made. Carol also continues to work at a local level to support those living with dementia in her own community and is Vice Chair and Secretary of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Dementia-Friendly Community.
Working with Sargent Group Consulting will enable you to develop your organisation to increase revenue, attract and motivate staff and enhance your reputation by offering advice on environmental, staff, technological and marketing adaptations tailored to your business needs.
This will allow your organisation to more confidently welcome not just the dementia community but those with other hidden and physical disabilities and chronic illnesses who have similar accessibility needs.
