How to get a proud man into a scooter?

[Raenstoirm]

One member of our spring group will really need a scooter. He is in his 70's with three knee replacements (one failed), a hit replacement, and two back surgeries under his belt. You can see that walking around the grocery store hurts him, but he is too proud to say anything. I have no doubt that he would walk the over 10 miles per day that we average without a complaint, but that just wont be fun. How do I get him into a scooter? I am thinking of ordering off site to use the "we have already paid for it so you'd better use it" logic on him. Any other convincing arguments?

 

[Escape2Disney]

One member of our spring group will really need a scooter. He is in his 70's with three knee replacements (one failed), a hit replacement, and two back surgeries under his belt. You can see that walking around the grocery store hurts him, but he is too proud to say anything. I have no doubt that he would walk the over 10 miles per day that we average without a complaint, but that just wont be fun. How do I get him into a scooter? I am thinking of ordering off site to use the "we have already paid for it so you'd better use it" logic on him. Any other convincing arguments?

My family had the same issue with me a few years back. What finally convinced me to use a scooter was when they sat me down and told me how much more fun they had when I wasn't in pain. I never complained about the pain, but they could see how difficult it was for me to get through the day. They said that they couldn't completely relax and enjoy themselves if they were worried about me. I relented and have used one ever since.

Many times people will avoid a scooter because they think they are successfully hiding the pain or they don't want the focus to be on them. I realized that they were focused LESS on me if I used one, so it became an easy decision.

 

[Cest_la_vie]

Don't.

By forcing him into an ECV you'll put him into a bad mood immediately. If he's able to cope with the pain then let him. Allow him to rest if need be. But don't say it's so he can rest.

Plan on renting a wheelchair from the park if it gets too bad. But don't force an ECV on him. Allow him to at least have his pride.

 

[Michigan]

You have to realize that it's his vacation too. If you make him feel like you don't want him around unless he uses a scooter you may lose a friend.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[OKW Lover]

How about getting him to ask his Dr's advice about doing that much walking?

 

[Cest_la_vie]

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

What do you count as disabled? The man can walk, just with pain. That doesn't sound disabled to me.

Also I would advise inquiring about a Guest Assistance Card if you think standing in lines will be hard for him. It allows an alternative. Guest relations in any of the parks would be able to help you.

 

[Piper]

What do you count as disabled? The man can walk, just with pain. That doesn't sound disabled to me.

Also I would advise inquiring about a Guest Assistance Card if you think standing in lines will be hard for him. It allows an alternative. Guest relations in any of the parks would be able to help you.

Unfortunately a Guest Assistance Card will not help at all with standing in lines. There is no place to sit in line and a GAC is not a front of the line pass (that doesn't exist--even for Wish Children as some of the people on the Wish Tripper's thread have discovered.) WDW's answer to stamina is to use a WC or ECV. People who don't need or use one think that it will get a lot of "perks"....sorry to say, it won't.

I also disagree with constant pain when walking not being a disability. Pain definitely affects your energy--uses it up much more quickly. It sounds as though he is the type of person for which an ECV will be very helpful.

 

[deegack]

What do you count as disabled? The man can walk, just with pain. That doesn't sound disabled to me.

Also I would advise inquiring about a Guest Assistance Card if you think standing in lines will be hard for him. It allows an alternative. Guest relations in any of the parks would be able to help you.

I would say if walking is difficult and causes pain he is disabled.
As for a gac, the standard answer for assistance due to mobility issues is to rent a wheelchair or ECv. He can takes those in most lines and those he can't have alternative lines/waiting areas. They don't have an alternative area where he could sit and wait and there are no front of the line passes (except the few wish kids that need them)

To the original question, can you take him to a Local zoo or other amusement park And see how he does. Them have a serious discusss along the lines that the pp suggestes about how it hurts you to see him hurting.
Good luck.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

You might pick a location at least a half mile from where hhe lives and ask him would he like to walk there. If he hesitates, then say "and back", and of he is still not sure then add "at least three times in a row".

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is more than 1¼ miles; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

And the official and normal response for any stamina or mobility problem is the suggestion that the person rent a wheelchair or ECV. And it is not jst the standing in line, but the distance between attractions.

 

[Raenstoirm]

To the original question, can you take him to a Local zoo or other amusement park And see how he does. Them have a serious discusss along the lines that the pp suggestes about how it hurts you to see him hurting.
Good luck.

It is the baby's first birthday on thursday so we are heading to a children's museum for his party. We will see how the walking through the museum goes.

 

[krisnme]

As I found with my Dad, you can't get a proud man on an ECV until he is darned good and ready...Then you can't get him off one!

 

[bedogged]

I would recommend he try an ECV at a store and that might show him how much better it is with an ECV. If he won't, I still think that you should get a GAC for him so that even though he is walking, he could use the handicapped entrance and at least avoid stairs. Please don't let anybody tell you that pain is not a disability!

 

[Piper]

I would recommend he try an ECV at a store and that might show him how much better it is with an ECV. If he won't, I still think that you should get a GAC for him so that even though he is walking, he could use the handicapped entrance and at least avoid stairs. Please don't let anybody tell you that pain is not a disability!

Most rides don't have a handicapped entrance--they are all mainstreamed through the same line. They do have an accommodation to avoid stairs. You will go through the main line up to a certain point and then be diverted. Also, if you take this option, be prepared to wait longer than those in the regular line. When I was with a large party and we had to split up, my family often was finished way before me and whoever stayed with me. A couple of times, the teenagers went back through the line and rode twice to my once!

 

[buffettgirl]

well if someone figures this out, please do let me know because I would love to get my father to use one at Disney - he LOVES disney but won't go back anymore. The walking bothers him a lot, but more than that, it's when he needs to sit somewhere it's often hard to find a place to sit at the time he needs it (parade watching, lines etc) He would flipping have a blast if he could ECV , he just doesn't realize it.

 

[RaySharpton]

well if someone figures this out, please do let me know because I would love to get my father to use one at Disney - he LOVES disney but won't go back anymore. The walking bothers him a lot, but more than that, it's when he needs to sit somewhere it's often hard to find a place to sit at the time he needs it (parade watching, lines etc) He would flipping have a blast if he could ECV , he just doesn't realize it.

Well, speaking just for myself as a very stubborn male, it took me many years of using a cane to finally rent a WDW park ECV.

No one could tell me to rent one until I finally decided that this was the only way to go where I wanted from point "A" to point "B" in MK or Epcot.

I used a walking cane for years, but finally I got to the point where strangers were stopping looking very concerned and asking me if I was okay.

I didn't realize how bad I must have looked to them when I was at the end of my rope just trying to get back to the bus or my resort room.

I was so embarrassed and I felt ashamed, too.

But not anymore.

The final lightbulb when off in my stubborn brain when I rented an ECV from an offsite vendor and found out that I didn't have to worry whether or not I could reach the WDW park ECV rental site.

I could use an offsite rental ECV everywhere from resort to bus to park and back.

I could also explore everthing that I couldn't do before when I only used a cane both within the park and outside the park at all of the other resorts or DTD.

I could drive around the FWCG; or around the CBR and CSR lakes; or from OKW to DTD or SSR. So many places to explore that I have never ever been able to see before.

And I could explore all of the little things at all of the WDW parks that I normally couldn't do with just walking with a cane without fear of making it back to my resort without help.

I was always worried that I might have to ask a stranger for help, and I did not want to do that when I was just using my cane.

And even after finally after renting a WDW park ECV, it took me a long time to finally rent an outside vendor.

But after one outside vendor rental of an ECV, I bought my own ECV that I use every time that I go to WDW.

I don't know what to tell you.

Maybe he just doesn't want to be a burden on anyone.

Maybe he is ashamed to have to admit that he needs an ECV.

It may be a combination of things.

Good luck and I wish you and him only the best.

 

[Sandy321]

I remember reading one of your first trip reports after using the ecv for the first time - it still brings chills -

It does seem to carry a stigma in one's own mind - I rarely give it a 2nd thought, but when I fell and sprained both my ankles,(not severe, but they were swollen HUGE) I smiled and knew I could rent an ecv and not slow down my family - due to Ray's great attitude and trip report!

It reminds me of how hard we try to "look good" and yet, if you quiz people, they cant remember what you have on, or how your hair was fixed - I try and get DD to look at the school that way - does she notice what others are wearing or doing? Chances are its the same with them - you dont have time, you have to concentrate on so many other things -

or in the case of Disney, I'm on vacation - I dont notice what others are doing, because I'm with my family - and I"M ON VACATION!! WOOHOOO!
(easier said than done for you op!)

 

[CurlyJo224]

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

You might pick a location at least a half mile from where hhe lives and ask him would he like to walk there. If he hesitates, then say "and back", and of he is still not sure then add "at least three times in a row".

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is more than 1¼ miles; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

And the official and normal response for any stamina or mobility problem is the suggestion that the person rent a wheelchair or ECV. And it is not jst the standing in line, but the distance between attractions.

And another thing to factor in: It's not just around the parks and between attractions. In some cases, it's a loooong walk from the parking or buses to the front gate.

When we went with my M-I-L and B-I-L they both ended up renting ECVs in the parks after the first day. But the walk from the buses to the gate/ECV rental was still very hard for them.

If we ever go again with either them, or my mom and stepdad, I'm going to at least keep the number of one of the local mobility places so we can get a ECV delivered to the hotel. The park rental is good in a pinch, but having one you can take to and from the hotel would work much better, IMO.

 

[ToddyLu]

I remember trying to convince my MIL that she could not push my sick FIL around Disney in a WC. Just getting up and down the inclines would be horrible--we all offered to help...in fact I told him that if I had to carry him on my back, we were all going to WDW. I looked at both of them one day and said, "think how much more independent he will be when he doesn't have to worry about US pushing HIM--who wants to realy have someone push them--when they want to go here and you want to go there." I explained that if he had a scooter he could wait for the parade on it while she was in shopping and vice versa--more independence for them both. Well that got the man to thinkin that it would be great to tootle away from everyone just to get that special photo.

I cannot explain what that trip meant to him and us...it was our last visit to WDW with him and it was fantastic, thanks in part to the scooter.

Can't you just have a heart to heart-come to Jesus meeting with him--just you and him. Ask him is it getting it on and off the bus? Is it the stigma (then ask him to remember 3 people on a scooter recently and see what he says--but he can't) of needing the scooter? Ask him what he would do if the roles were reversed. Wouldn'et he want you to be with him onthe trip and comfy--able to last the day.

Make a bet--tell him you will pay for the scooter, no strings attached. At the end of the first day give him a great big hug and tell him you love him but you watched him suffer all day and it brought you down. Or heck just get one, take it with you to the park and then you will have it if he needs it. Maybe by showing him it is OK--he will give in.

Hugs to you and he is a lucky man to have you thinking about his needs.

 

[ToddyLu]

Maybe he could read Ray's trip report. There is something keeping him from getting a scooter--you just have to figure out what it is and then fix it, just fix it.