Trip W/Mom - Last Trip Cancer/Incontinence/Etc.

[Agri]

I'm hoping to take my mom to WDW one last time. She's suffered some medical setbacks recently and the doctor seems to be leaning towards discontinuing treatment of her brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme). Our last trip, she was still mobile and just needed lots of naps - she rode EVERYTHING but RnRC because the inversion bothered her head.

She was recently hospitalized with diverticulitis and the few days on her back ill and doing nothing have really set her back. I'm her sole caregiver, so I am limited as to what I can (safely) do with her. Her home therapy should be starting up again soon and as she is moving around fairly well in bed, I am hoping that she will at the very least regain the ability to transfer in and out of a wheelchair. (Prior to hospitalization, she was able to walk very short distances with a walker.)

If/when she regains the ability to transfer well, I will be booking our trip, boarding our pets, and flying down to WDW for a few days.

My main concern in all of this is her incontinence. Will I have to take her back to the room to change her or would the first aid facilities have a way for me to do that? If she can stand up, it won't be as much of an issue, but I'd rather make things as simple/easy as possible. Obviously, if I have to take her back to the room, it'll impact which resort we choose.

Other problems - she's diabetic, has right side weakness, and mild cognitive issues when tired.

I *know* she'd have a good time if it was a short trip. I guess right now I'm trying to figure out just how doable such a trip would be - Disney is one of the few things that perks her up when she's down now. Thanks for any help/advice you can offer.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just time for a short answer.
If she needs to lie down to be changed, First Aid is your only choice inside the parks.
They have private rooms with cots where she could lie down. The staff are very nice

 

[Agri]

Just time for a short answer.
If she needs to lie down to be changed, First Aid is your only choice inside the parks.
They have private rooms with cots where she could lie down. The staff are very nice

Thanks so much! That totally puts my mind at ease. I've been looking through the threads - it's difficult to adapt some of the information since my mom, is well, an adult, and not as easy to deal with as a young child. We've taken a few trips since her diagnosis, all of which she spent in a manual wheelchair so even though she's definitely worse off now, it's not going to be a huge leap in what I was already dealing with at the parks in some ways.

I'm 99.9% positive a friend will be able to join us for at least one day of our trip (perhaps more), and I'm going to plan for her "must do" rides that require transfers for that day.

She already knows she won't be able to ride Space Mountain and several of her favorites are ride ons. My big concern is Tower of Terror since that is her absolute favorite. She's generally very easy-going and only gets mad at me, so I don't expect any big meltdowns if she finds out she can't ride something or if it's best not to try to ride something - even if it's Tower of Terror.

I also know she'll have oodles to do even if she can only transfer when absolutely necessary (bathroom/sleep - not rides).

 

[peemagg]

I know that Bete on here traveled a lot with her Mom who had lots of issues. She would be a good one to ask about different things.

 

[Agri]

I know that Bete on here traveled a lot with her Mom who had lots of issues. She would be a good one to ask about different things.

Thanks for the suggestion. I read her posts/thread, but her mom was rather mobile and could use public restrooms and such whereas mine cannot. But thank you.

While my mother is coping with a brain tumor and has some cognitive issues, the biggest problem is the physical manifestation. She's currently bedridden, but I hope to have her doing transfers again within the month. She has extreme right side weakness and tends to ignore that side even exists. She does much better with finger foods than utensils - she *can* use utensils, they just require extra thinking and she just wants to eat. I figure I can cut things up and work with menus at the restaurants we choose to dine at.

Her cognitive issues make her a bit 'slow' at times, but she doesn't have much in common with Alzheimer's. (We cared for my grandmother at home until she passed away from that, so I'm familiar with that as well, unfortunately.) She generally understands what is being said to her - especially if spoken to slowly and carefully. Sometimes things need to be explained to her because she forgets, but she's still a quick learner so it doesn't take long for her to understand what you need her to do (the brain is a very odd thing). I'll be practicing with her before the trip as well, so that will limit possible confusion further. Due to her personality, she generally wants to get along and not cause trouble, so she doesn't act out (or say anything!) when she's having difficulties - I didn't know she was having problems walking this past August until I saw her grabbing at things to get to the bathroom.

Quite frankly, I'm so used to doing everything on my own I'm not exactly sure what help I would need from Disney - accommodations-wise - but I'm kind of just putting out feelers and starting the thinking process to see how doable a trip would be and what exactly would help make things easier on her.

 

[JennyDrake]

I may be able to help just a little as I have made three trips in the last year as a traveling companion to a senior lady. "My" lady has mild dementia, is incontinent, and uses a walker/cane due to very limited mobility from a broken hip (years ago). Arthritis limits the use of her hands. She can transfer along level surfaces (SHORT distances) but "up" or "down" into a ride is very hard/impossible.

I don't know if it would work for you, but if it could/would I would strongly suggest you rent an ECV for her.

Handicap stalls and companion restrooms were all we/she needed for the incontinence issue. We also folded up a beach towel "just in case" on the seat of the ECV.

There are two of us to help with "my senior." We learned that "down" into a ride (Living with the Land, Mexico, etc.) was much easier than "up" out of the ride. The DHS Backlot Tour (which she really enjoyed) was a real issue when it ended. We were so focused on getting her "up, twisted around and in" to the ride vehcile that we didn't think about how she would get out. There were no good hand grips for her to use to help ease herself down and the steps are shallow and steep.

I'm sure you will read this elsewhere as well, but ASK THE CMs at each and every attraction how/where to enter. It is SO different everywhere!!!!

And no matter what, DO NOT enter the main queue at Finding Nemo!! It was a NIGHTMARE to navigate: narrow, tight turns and in the dark.