Which Resort 'easiest' for Elderly Parents?

[mickey&minniealways]

We either seem to have either both my inlaws with us or my mother. We always stay at OKW so we can have the car right there if we need it. We always request either a ground floor room or an elevator because of medical reasons. We also specify that we do not need the handicap accesible just no stairs. We have always gotten our request.

 

[Muhlenberg]

I've gone through the same thought processes that you have...with my 85 yo parents. Mom can't see well, Dad can't walk great, but he gets around, and both WALK through the parks, albeit slowly with many stops.

Some additional considerations...

If you are not in a HA unit, buy some portable grab bars at Bed, Bath and Beyond...they're wonderful if climbing into a tub/shower. Do they have a HA Parking Placard? Valet parking is free for those with the HA Placard, and most parking issues become a moot point, unless the drop-off is far from the DVC resort itself (VWL comes to mind). There will be HA ramps near the valet drop-off.

1) Kidani- Will the carpeting "play tricks" on your mom's eyes with the animal skin pattern? Will the dark decor have the same effect? If she's ok with that, Kidani is a GREAT choice.

2) Jambo - While I haven't stayed there, I understand the tub/shower in the 1 BR is high and hard to step over. That is a definite consideration with the elderly. It would probably not be a wise choice. Also, the dark decor of the lobby would be tricky for depth perception. (Kidani is dark, too, but with a car you wouldn't have to go through the lobby much.)

3) SSR works real well with the elevator or first floor option. As others have mentioned, tell MS you need "near the bus stop and elevator for medical reasons." I have used that request at SSR and we were on the first floor in the front of the building.

4) OKW would work with the same request as SSR, but you said you'd like somewhere else for a change.

5) VWL, in my opinion, would be WAY too much walking (too far from the parking lot) and the dark decor plus patterns may "play tricks" on your mom's eyes.

6) BLT would be a good choice, but you'd need to request "near the SOUTH elevator bank/walkway for medical reasons" since anything else is a bit far to go to CR.

7) BCV seems to have parking that is closer, so that'd be ok maybe, but I don't know where the valet drop-off is there.

8) BWV would be ok, but request near the elevator...for the medical reason. Note that the boat dock is right out front of the resort.

We have stayed at SSR and BLT with my parents. Both worked well. I'm trying BWV in January with them, as the rooms are lighter color, everything is close, and the points are less. (We're point-challenged. BLT was a killer...3 of us in a studio.)


Good luck sorting it all out!

 

[Dean]

The walking could still be much less when you compare walking from the room at BCV or BWV or VWL to dinner - or really most of the resorts. It's going to be less b/c you can go to the car and drive to your location. If you were talking time to get to dining then it could be more but just walking distance - as a wheelchair pusher - I'd disagree.

My focus was from the standpoint of the person in question and the idea that getting in and out of the car multiple more times caused issues, esp when trying to find a parking place. IMO the risk to OKW and SSR for extra walking is actually more than most other resorts. We've done the wheelchair thing at many places over the last few years. All are workable and personal preference and specifics of the situation impact the decisions greatly.

 

[mkarizona]

My dad is 92. On one of our DL trips two years ago he twisted his knee and was in a lot of pain walking. Renting a scooter saved the trip. He loved it! He has alzheimer's so we were worried about his being able to use the controls, but he zipped around with no trouble at all, and navigating the crowds at DL is not always easy.