Quantcast Taking DM on a "terminal" trip need help
 
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    South Mississippi
    Posts
    809
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    Default Taking DM on a "terminal" trip need help

    My mother 64 was in an automobile accident 2 years ago. She was in a coma for a month and a half. She lives with me and I am her caregiver 24/7. I am her 42 yr old son. She is physically and mentally handi-capable. She has dementia and early onset Alzheimers. She took me on my first trip to DL in '72 and my first trip to DW in '84. Both of us have been to both parks numerous times. She has been asking me to take her for months. I have been waiting for her to get better physically. I asked the doctors what they thought about her going last week. They told me "you better make it soon." She is fading fast mentally. I got on the phone Monday and spent hours trying to book a room at AS S. Finally got a package booked with a guaranteed roll-in shower. I called back on Wednesday just to confirm everything was still a go. Spent hours going round and round with them because they told me they only have HC rooms with one king size bed. Well I would kind of like to have my own bed. If she wakes up in a strange place next to a strange man, I could get hurt and that is a distress she could live without. Finally they moved us to the ASM an we now have 2 beds and a roll-in shower. She was nice enough to point out that she wasn't going to charge me for changing resorts? Anyway, This may be my mom's last trip to DW and I want to make this as magical as possible for her. It has gotten off to a bad start and I am an emotional wreck already. Our trip starts with our driving to DW this Sunday. Not a lot of time. I am asking for any advice to make her trip as magical as possible. She is in a wheelchair and is a high fall risk. She can walk about 15 feet at a time and can not do any steps or stairs either up or down. She gets frightened and confused very easily. She loves children and talks to everyone she sees.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Davenport, FL
    Posts
    3,321
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    First of all... Welcome to Intercot

    I think it is wonderful for you to make this magical trip with your mother.

    I would suggest seeing the shows at the parks. You know her the best and are able to judge if she could handle any of the attractions (rides). The parks also have companion restrooms so you can take care of those needs.

    You mentioned that she is a high fall risk. Is she ok in the bed? If you are not sure in a strange setting, you can request bed rails.

    Have a great trip, you are such a wonderful son to make these memories.... take lots of pictures
    Marci

    Many visits. Live 20 minutes from the parks.
    Work at Universal Studios in Diagon Alley. Ollivanders/ wand magic.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    South Mississippi
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    Thank you,
    She is pretty good in the bed, yet this will be a strange environment for her. I will ask for the rails. I did not know they were available. She is disoriented for about 20 minutes after she wakes up. I usually wake up at 5am and just wait to help her. This being a strange environment has me a little nervous.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    2,394
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    What a great gift! Disney is a great place to just go and be. It is magical just to be there, even if you are doing it at a different pace than everyone else.

    Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you go on Sunday.
    Carrie

    CBR: 2/21-2/25/17
    POR: 6/4-6/11/16
    POFQ: 11/15-11/19/15
    8/28-9/1/14 -DL-Dumbo 19.3 C2C
    POR: 1/7-1/14/14 -Dopey 48.6
    POR: 6/11-6/17/13
    ASMu: 1/11-1/15/13 -1st Full 26.2
    ASMu: 9/22-9/28/11
    ASMu: 6/7-6/13/11
    Pop: 1/30-2/6/10
    Pop: 2/1-2/7/09
    Pop: 1/08
    ASMu: 05/06
    Off-site: 12/93

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    South Mississippi
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    It is a magical place. My mom asks me every morning if she is really going or did she dream it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    1,468
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    Quote Originally Posted by Disney Hungarian View Post
    It is a magical place. My mom asks me every morning if she is really going or did she dream it.
    Oh, how sweet.

    I feel for you, my grandmother also suffered from dementia and I was her caregiver and I know how quickly they can fade.

    I think it is absolutely wonderful that you are taking her to WDW.

    I don't know what "stage" your mother is in and what she would like to do, but I know my grandmother had a tendency to enjoy what children enjoy doing, and I think that if we had a chance to have taken her to WDW, she probably would have enjoyed getting her picture taken with the characters, especially the princess' and Prince Charming. She got very girly towards the end and loved dressing up and wearing lots of jewelery and I think she would have gotten a kick out of seeing all the princess' in their beautiful dresses. I also believe she would have tried to steal Prince Charming away from Cinderella, She also became quite the flirt.

    Maybe your mother might enjoy going in the attraction "One man's dream" at Hollywood Studios, it is a walk through attraction that is handicap accessible that shows the life of Walt Disney, and also has a movie at the end of how he started Disney. That might be a calming attraction for her.

    I hope you both have a wonderful time and have many happy memories of this trip.


    I Hope You Have A Magical Vacation!
    Next Trip-Jan 2012 POFQ! & 2nd DCL! Sailing To The Caribbean!

    Previous Trips
    12/'10 CBR & 1st DCL
    12/'09 CBR
    12/'08 *1st On Property*- POFQ
    12/'07 *1st Christmas Trip*
    04/'06 1st trip back
    11/'91* 6 yrs old, My 1st Trip To WDW*

    șoș "Let Us Not Forget,It All Started With A Mouse" șoș

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