Taking elderly parents on cruise? Read this!
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just in case you're still following it, Pappy is now on medication and has improved due to Aricept. They are both happy in the facility and have made new friends. This has been a great Christmas for us, trust me!
#23
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are considering a family cruise this summer with my siblings, our grown children and our parents, 82 and 84. The parents would enjoy the experience, but since they both have mobility problems, they will need a ship with lots of working elevators and a handicapped-accessible room. Are some cruise lines better at providing these amenities?
Our last group cruise was great except that the elevators were always either in use or broken. Getting up and down the stairs became a real problem as was getting down the ramp to the tender. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Our last group cruise was great except that the elevators were always either in use or broken. Getting up and down the stairs became a real problem as was getting down the ramp to the tender. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
#24
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 24,943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, youngrandma. You've come to the right place for answers, unfortunately I can't help you with this one. But I will try to help you by making a suggestion. I think you will get a lot more assistance by posting a seperate thread for this question. Good luck!!
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi younggrandma! First, taking a summer cruise means that there will be a lot of kids, and they tend to play elevator games (pushing all the buttons) and crowding areas. The favorite thing is sitting on the steps. Most cruise ships are supremely accessible. In fact, it's the easiest vacation for elderly. Don't flame me, but I would nix Carnival first. If you're planning a short cruise, I love RCCL Enchantment of the Seas for a 4 or 5 nighter. Not too big, but lots of fun, newly refurbished and easy to get around. The huge ships might prove a problem with kids and walking distances. They might want to bring an electric wheelchair if they are mentally but not physically fit.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad to hear the driving problem got resolved. We had problems with my mother-in-law losing her car and refusing to give up her keys. Once, when she got out of the hospital she was too weak to drive at first. We then took turns "borrowing" her car; seems someone in the family always needed her car because theirs was in need of repairs. Every once in a while she would say, "Now, who's got my car?" Once she even asked this question while riding in her car!