What are your recommendations for my Senior Mom?

[Maddle]

Hello Friendly Folks - This is a nice board over here, and you have been so helpful to people with so many health issues. My question is more of a senior issue, and I hope you can give me helpful suggestions.

I will be going to WDW with my 74 year-old mother first week of December (hopefully not to crowded a time.) She is in moderate-to-poor physical shape, has diabetes and some nueropathy, and evidence of osteoporosis. (As I re-read that last sentence, it sounds worse than she is.) She is VERY social, but not particularly physically active, although she can get out of her own way. She is kind of pokey, but I think that is more of a control-issue, because I have seen her hustle when SHE thinks it is important. (Uh-oh, mother/daughter issues starting to show up, aren't they?)

She is not too concerned about walking around the parks, but she thinks standing for any period of time will be too much for her. Her friend suggested an ECV, but I think that might be overkill. I was thinking of a wheelchair, but that means I have to push it, of course. (Hah - now I am in control. Just kidding.) My biggest concern is that I don't want her to wear herself out too early in the day.

We will be staying off site. I can take my chances and rent what is available at the parks, as needed. OR - I can rent from a non-Disney provider, and bring it back and forth to the park in the trunk of the car. (Full-size rental car.) I will have cousins with us to help with loading/unloadingm, whether wheelchair or ECV.

I really think a wheel chair is the way to go, and I would like something light-weight and collapsable. What is a companion wheel chair? Does that have smaller wheels? Will I be better off with bigger wheels to assist me pushing her?

Do you have other suggestions or experiences? Thank you for any insight.

Maddle

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A companion (also transport or Alzheimer's) chair has four small wheels instead of two large and two small. They do tend to be lighter weight than a standard chair.

HOWEVER, they MUST be pushed; the person sitting in it has no way to control the chair on their own. I would not recommend this for your mother as she will then feel that YOU consider her handicapped!

Actually my recommendation is to rent an ECV for her (preferably from off-site). See the disABILITIES FAQ for detailed information. One of my strongest recommendations for an ECV rather than a wc is it will allow your mother to have the independence she wants. This way she will not feel that she is a burden to anyone and can keep up a good pace.

As an aside, she can become the "official schlepper" to carry things in the basket or on the floorboards or handles, and can run short errands without wearing anybody out. This will even ease her mind more about not being a burden.

Also, the first week of December does tend to be very slow and uncrowded, as well as all the Christmas Decorations are up.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Cheshire Figment
I would not recommend this for your mother as she will then feel that YOU consider her handicapped!

I agree with this. If she already feels like you think she is old and needs assistance, this might just encourage that.
An ecv does give her a lot more control and independence. You can get all the info you need about where to rent from, etc from the FAQs near the top of this board. Actually, you are lucky that one of her friends recommended an ecv - much easier to get her to accept it than if you had suggested it.

One of the big things to think about is how much walking is involved in visiting WDW. I've seen estimates that the average person walks between 3 and 9 miles per day. Just the area around the water at WS is 1.3 miles (which might be 1 mile more than your mom usually walks each day if she's not very active.)
This website has some good insight into visiting WDW with older members of your family.

If you do get a companion/transport chair, they are made for that purpose and generally are easily pushed (a lot because they are a lot lighter than the average WDW rental wheelchair). They do collapse smaller than a traditional wheelchair, so they are usually easier to get into your vehicle.

 

[Maddle]

Thanks for the ideas, and the info on the companion chair. Please keep 'em coming.

It's not me that thinks she is old - it's her. I don't want her to give in any more than she already has. Having said that, I have to be realistic. It's a huge place, and it is exhausting for the strongest/healthiest person.

I think I will follow the suggestion in one of the stickeys - have her go try out an ECV at one of the grocery stores or Walmart. The problem with that is, she might like it too much.

Her friend that suggested the ECV used one a couple summers ago - she just RAVED about it, and now Mom thinks that's the only way to go.

On the other hand (here comes that control issue) it will be me that has to deal with the size of it, with getting it in and out of the car, with getting her on and off of it. (Do the seats swivel?) The wheelchair is just smaller to deal with, and I can push her right up to a ride or show in most cases. (But hey - I also have to think about how exhausting pushing her around might be.)

Maddle

 

[pampam]

A lot depends on the weight of your mother and the condition of the wheelchair. If the chair is in good shape, it can be glided with one finger on flat ground, if the person isn't too heavy. My daughter weighs 140. Add on bags, because the chair can be the carry all for everything, plus the weight of the chair itself and its a lot of weight. I can push it very easily, because the chair is balanced properly. On the other hand, I pushed a friend who weighed 260 at least, in a borrowed chair, and thought I'd give myself a heart attack.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The ECVs have a rod that sticks out under the seat where it is reachable with the right hand. Pushing the rod down will release the seat from the locked position and it can be turned in either direction. There are locking slots in all four directions. This way if she needs to, she can get in the chair with the seat sideways and then swivel to the front.

 

[dj2]

the first few times i'd been pushed in a wc because i didn't have the ability to walk were awful. i realized that i felt helpless, dependent, and humiliated. not logical, maybe, but definitely how i was feeling. if the only reason why you're not going to get an ecv is the issue of taking it in/out of the trunk, i say get the ecv! that's not good enough of a reason. one's whole experience is different (better!) when one can get around independently.

please take this in the right way, but try to look at it from the perspective of what's best for her, not you. nesides, even from your perspective, i'll bet the brief effort to get it in/out of the trunk is nothing compared to the full day's effort of pushing her. IMHO

Enjoy your trip!!

dj

 

[Maddle]

DJ - yes - thanks - I have been considering both of those points, i.e.: will she feel helpless, and dependent? and will pushing her be a whole lot of effort, (more than getting it in and out of the car.)

So - today I suggested she go to the grocery store and try one out, and her reaction was so funny - "OH NO - I'll just crash into things." Hmmm - I had these visions of her bringing down a display of canned food.

She is quite smart, I think she could handle an ECV...she is just a little afraid to try new machines and technology. She doesn't give herself a lot of credit....and that is why I don't want her to BECOME dependent....so, I will encourage her again.

Maybe she should call her friend and ask if it was easy enough to master the ECV.

Maddle

 

[Ambassador]

The first week of December is traditionally the slowest week of the year regarding attendence.

The Ambassador, Sr. although quite ancient and feeble, believes he is fit and agile. He refuses all assistance at airports and transfers, exhausts himself, and naps the rest of the time in between. As a lifelong type-one control-freak he demands independence and dignity, and at his age deserves it frankly.

We have small members in our Delegation, and have come to appreciate a slower pace. Perhaps your mother will enjoy the entertainment and parades more than headliner rides. The decorations and sight of happy children are wonderful in themselves. But if she must ride Test Track and Tower of Terror, ask Guest Services if she may request a Guest Assistance Card, and use FastPass kiosks to reduce waiting times. Seniors are advised to avoid Mission Space, although Ambassador Sr. thinks this is clever marketing only.

We normally visit the Parks early, have a leisurely lunch, go back to our resort for the Pool and some rest, and occasionally return the the Parks for an evening event.

 

[Maddle]

Whoo-hoo! I don't see her on TOT, but Test Track, maybe. She says she isn't going on any rides, but I am sure there are many that she will enjoy.

Mom accepts wheelchair assistance at the airport. She doesn't want to be the slow-poke of the group. I am not too worried about that, but she does tire out, and that is the concern about waiting in lines, or standing for parades.

I do like your idea of the early park visit, and resort time.

Maddle