My 71 year old mother, who has difficulty walking, and my 73 year old father, who is in a wheelchair, insist on pre-sickness plans to go to Maui for a month. I am worried about how they will make the trip in terms of: getting from the airplane to baggage claim area, physically getting the luggage off the luggage carousel, bringing it to the rental car place, load the luggage into the car, and unload it at their Kihei condo. Neither of them are capable of these minute details. Can anyone who either lives on Maui, or has recently been, reassure me or offer me some helpful tips on handicapped assistance.
Thanks,
Nervous daughter

Most of this can be arranged. When checking in to fly to Maui, have agent put in record that both need a wheelchair pick up at the plane. If dad has his own wheelchair - no problem, they will bring that up first from the baggage hold. Then someone will roll them both from the plane to baggage claim and park them while they get the bags for them off the carousel and load em on carrier. For the rental mom needs to hop on the shuttle to the lot, leaving dad and the bags with one of the helpers. Then drive the car back to the baggage area (I did this with my family no prob its easier than hauling bags on tbe shuttle bus) Then when mom pulls up with the car the helper can load em in the trunk. Make sure they tip them well for all the help and time. There are folks that do this full time in all airports.

As far as the condo -- call em and ask how to arrange the help to unload.

I can't tell you a thing about Maui but I have had to think through similar details for another location. Suggestion: Hire a "limo", i.e. van service, to get from the airport to the condo. Get a rental car the next day (or whenever) by taking a taxi.

Here's my picture for how it goes:
At the airport, the airline can meet your parents with wheelchairs (a normal service). Staff will roll them to the baggage carousel and will retrieve baggage. Then will roll them out to curb. Hand out tips at this point! Airport staff in Florida have been VERY nice and helpful with this. I assume people are inherently nice in Hawaii, too.

If your father is in a wheelchair, how will he get up those steps into the rental car shuttle van? Between the airport staff and the van driver, the luggage will be taken care of. But they may not be able to help your father. That's the reason I recommended the limo. If the rental car can be picked up right next to the terminal, as at very small airports, they'll be OK. If your mother has to go in the shuttle van herself, and then navigate back to the terminal to pick up your father, as at most medium or large airports, it will be very stressful for her. Call the rental car company's local number to get specifics on the layout.

But even if they can pick up the rental car right at the terminal, how will they manage at their condo? That's where the limo company comes in. Tell them when reserving that you need luggage unloading service so they send an appropriate driver. We're in a service economy now. Most companies are prepared to provide needed services, though you have to be willing to pay and/or tip.

I know it's painful to talk to your parents about this, as they probably don't want to fully face their current limitations. Of course I can't tell you whether, or how vigorously, to argue with them. But plenty of folks DO manage to get to healthful warm-weather winter lodgings safely, and the advance planning is worth it IMO!

Best of luck!

Thank you both so much. I have no experience with these situations and it is nice to know that it can be done.
They are a bit feisty about accepting my suggestions, so I have to walk softly when I bring this up.
Thanks again.

SMB, my concern would be what happens after they get to the condo and all the "help" departs. If your mother has trouble walking, who will assist your father in his daily needs -- dressing, bathing, etc? Do they plan to go anywhere for sightseeing or meals out? Who will assist your father getting in and out of the car? Who will put the wheelchair into the car and take it out at the other end? For that matter, can your mother push your father in the wheelchair, or is it motorized? And do they know for a fact that the condo is fully wheelchair accessible?

I took my mother to Hawaii twice when she had problems walking. The first trip she was using a walker, and the condo we were given had a bathroom with the toilet in a small nook that she could not get into with the walker. Needless to say, we had to change to a different condo.

After managing all these details, I know how much work is involved. The second trip when my mother was in a wheelchair, I brought someone along to help me. Maybe your parents need to arrange for some help when they are there, or if they are resistant to the idea, maybe you can check out the options so that if they find they need help you can arrange it for them easily and quickly.

You are right to be nervous, in my opinion.

Do you know which condo in Kihei they are staying at?

Marilyn:
You are exactly right. I feel like no one understands my concerns. I have asked my mother, who is going to unpack, what happens if Dad gets sicker? etc, etc. and she does not want to hear it. She just says everything is going to be fine. It is driving me crazy with worry.

Offlady:
They are staying at the Kihei Surfside.
I am hoping they will call ahead to see what kind of help is available at the condo. I was with them at the condo across the way last year, Manai Kay Maui and there are people at the desk and cleaning staff, but it is not like a hotel with porters, etc.

I just don't like it.

Your mom may be helping with things for now, but she can easily develop stress fractures and the like from doing more than she should. Talk about their daily routine in detail with them, looking for problem areas. If they still insist on going, you may have to arrange for an LPN or companion.

SMB, perhaps patg has given you a way to talk with them about these issues. Can you discuss their planned activities and then say as sort of an afterthought, "Gee, Mom, how are you going to get Dad in and out of the car by yourself?"

I don't suppose there is someone, a friend or relative, who might want to accompany them and who would be desirable company for them?

If they continue to stonewall you, I would call the condo management and see if they can suggest anything. And keep your schedule clear in case you have to fly over there and bring them home!

Believe me, I've been through it all!

I think Kihei Surfside has about the same kind of service that Mana Kai has. You should call in advance to get information about the porter service, handicap accessibility, etc. When your parents arrive on the island, you should give the condo office your name and number in case they need to notify you for some important reason. Their number is 808-879-2778.

Thanks everybody. I just checked back on my post. I will call the condo. I did an internet search for doctors just to know who to call and gave the list to my parents. I tried the detailed, "Lets talk this through: How are you going to get to the airport? How are you going to get the luggage into the rental car... etc" routine and wound up getting yelled at for giving her the 3rd degree. Can't win. This one is more for the shrinks than my friends/fellow travellers. Thanks for the support.