Ideas for olde couple - one with severe disabilities?

[Anonymous]

I want to send my parents on a trip. My dad has dementia, not yet super severe (but he's mostly always confused) and he's wheelchair bound. So really, the trip is for my mom as she has limited time left with him. Where are good wheelchair-friendly places they might drive to from here (DC area)? I know the Ada exists but some places are far better at accommodating than others.

She's feeling a little trapped.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Do you really want to send them alone?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the Chesapeake Bay Hyatt for a weekend?

[Anonymous]

Get someone to care for your dad and take your mom on a trip. Having a loved one with dementia, travel at that in
between stage is very hard.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to go with them, or do you anticipate them going by themselves? Because honestly that sounds really rough on your mom to be travelling with a wheelchair bound husband with dementia.

[Anonymous]

OP here. thanks. They want to travel alone. I have offered to join, though.

This in between stage - maybe past that now? - is so hard, you are right, PP.

[Anonymous]

I like salamander resort in middleburg. It is new so I would assume Ada accessible but you never know.

[Anonymous]

Could they do a cruise? They're usually great for the ADA compliance. Not sure about the dementia aspect, tho.

[Anonymous]

OP that's really hard. I'd worry that being away from home would make your dad more confused, especially if he's likely to try to get out of his wheelchair. I agree with PP about getting an in-home care provider (like a certified nursing assistant) to come. If you use PP's Chesapeake Bay suggestion, your mom could try Visiting Angels, which operates up and down the eastern shore.

Once you're sure he's past the in-between stage, she should find a local assisted living facility with respite care that she likes.

[Anonymous]

This article highlights cruises or flying when you need to accommodate a wheel chair:
http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Access-granted

[Anonymous]

My grandparents really enjoyed the Opryland Hotel.

[Anonymous]

Cruise out of Baltimore. Cruises actually have medical staff available and enough regular staff to return him to his cabin if he's lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cruise out of Baltimore. Cruises actually have medical staff available and enough regular staff to return him to his cabin if he's lost.

+1. Cruise Baltimore to Bermuda

[Anonymous]

Train travel? Each long distance Amtrak sleeping car has a nice ADA bedroom for a disabled person plus a companion. Maybe going to Florida on auto train, and then starting in a hotel on the beach (like New Smyrna Beach)? Plenty of ADA/senior friendly hotels there. I've been on auto train many time and you see many older couples enjoying the trip.

[Anonymous]

Agree on the cruise, but if they'll let you maybe you could cruise along and keep your distance (stay on another floor or whatever) but be around if needed to help. I get that your mom wants to go alone but given that your dad will be in a new place, she may be underestimating the confusion and difficulty.