Old people help

I've never heard of anything like this but it's worth asking. In two weeks 27 of my family will leave on a cruise. My grandparents are in there 80s. There is one port where everyone wants to do the same excursion, is there any service that carnival has to take care of my grandparents while we all get off the ship? The other 3 ports my moms sisters are splitting up on staying on at each port but everyone wanted to do an excursion together. Just wanted to see if I had any options. Thank you!

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I've never heard of anything like this but it's worth asking. In two weeks 27 of my family will leave on a cruise. My grandparents are in there 80s. There is one port where everyone wants to do the same excursion, is there any service that carnival has to take care of my grandparents while we all get off the ship? The other 3 ports my moms sisters are splitting up on staying on at each port but everyone wanted to do an excursion together. Just wanted to see if I had any options. Thank you!

 

 

Have not heard of any" senior assistance "programs onboard any ships.

 

Reader

I've never heard of anything like this but it's worth asking. In two weeks 27 of my family will leave on a cruise. My grandparents are in there 80s. There is one port where everyone wants to do the same excursion, is there any service that carnival has to take care of my grandparents while we all get off the ship? The other 3 ports my moms sisters are splitting up on staying on at each port but everyone wanted to do an excursion together. Just wanted to see if I had any options. Thank you!

 

 

Have not heard of any" senior assistance "programs onboard any ships.

 

Reader

Perhaps they would enjoy a little "quiet, peaceful, without the whole family" time? I know mine would. If they have a balcony, they might enjoy that, and they can order room service. My parents are in their 80's, and they would spend the day in the casino. LOL Hoping you have a solution, so everyone can enjoy their time aboard or off.

You would have to bring your own helper.

If your parents are unable to manage without assistance and are left alone and that is brought to the attention of the medical staff, it is possible they will require you to remain with them 24/7 or end their cruise for safety reasons.

 

Perhaps they would enjoy a little "quiet, peaceful, without the whole family" time? I know mine would. If they have a balcony, they might enjoy that, and they can order room service. My parents are in their 80's, and they would spend the day in the casino. LOL Hoping you have a solution, so everyone can enjoy their time aboard or off.

 

 

Thank you for the advice but they are a very old 80, and we are worried about their safety. This is their first cruise and it's basically a last family vacation trip, as their health is falling fast.

 

 

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What is the reason they need to be watched? Do they have dementia or something? If not, they should be fine sitting somewhere on the ship watching the world go by.

I agree they will be fine. But my mom and her sisters are worried, like if they have to eat or move or something I guess. I thought giving them the room service menus and letting them sit in their room or on their balcony would be just fine.

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Hope you and your family have a great cruise! :)

Reader

If they are unable to care for themselves, perhaps leaving them alone isn't the best idea.

You say "if they have to eat or move". Sounds to me like someone should stay with them if it is that drastic.

I would suggest you contact NCL to see if this is available. They have Babysitting, so I don't see why they couldn't accommodate 2 seniors. How hard could that be? They could go to the Library & read or find a quiet spot in the shade.

I agree they will be fine. But my mom and her sisters are worried, like if they have to eat or move or something I guess. I thought giving them the room service menus and letting them sit in their room or on their balcony would be just fine.

 

 

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If your grandparents are still living, unassisted, they will be fine. My parents when both in their mid 80's, were able to move about the ship with no problems, though things like elevators and finding their hallways would sometimes be an issue. My advice is to "prep" your Grandparents by taking them on the same route from their room to the buffet and other areas they may want to visit on a consistent basis. Also, a room number, written down on something, they could present to a staff member would be helpful.

There are so few people remaining on on the ship during port days that they won't get caught up in crowds. Just write down the times the buffet is open, for them, and make sure they have a clock in their room.

By the way, my Mom would be offended if I called her old. Her response would be "I'm just age challenged, Dear." I was always surprised at how well they did and they got to the point where the dining room and it's one direct elevator didn't even phase them. Repetition, for them, was the key, though. And they NEVER had any problem finding the Casino and their favorite slot machine.

You can preorder a room service meal to be delivered at a certain time, if you think they can't figure that out. Then they will be fed and can watch a movie on the TV.

We have the same situation with DH's family anytime we go anywhere together for vacation or a family event out of town. Hands down someone (typically a couple) stays behind to monitor and assist our elderly family members. It is what it is and we just understand it needs to be our responsibility if we want them to be part of the trip.

If something were to happen or they become disoriented or ill for some reason, it would be awful for them to be alone not knowing what to do or how to reach out to their family members. We alternate couples (we have 2 people stay behind so that one can stay with the family members and one can get help or be food runner or what ever), it is just part of our trip.

Look, if this is more than likely your last family vacation with them as you say due to failing health issues, there will be plenty of other years for "all of you" to do other excursions together.

You all will have a blast in the long run, have fun!

Give them $50 in Five dollar bills. Have your Grandfather give one $5 every half hour to the cabin steward. It won't take long and he will make a very good friend that will sit with them till you get back.

When we were on the Pride we left my older (79) grandfather on the boat in his wheelchair while we went over to Half Moon Cay. We left him with his sail and sign so he was able to order any drinks he wanted, and a staff member even assisted him to the restroom. If they are able to ask a staff member for help Im sure someone will be able to assist them with what they may need.

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If their children are concerned about them moving or eating, then someone will have to be with them.

Being fine at home in familiar surroundings is one thing. Being somewhere new is completely different. A family member got very confused on a ship. They'd been on that ship several times before.

Could do trial runs-- them walking, by themselves to various places (not knowing they're being followed). At worst someone or two will have to stay behind.

Being onboard during a port stay can be fun.

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I traveled with a directional challenged niece one cruise who was "lost" most of the time. She could never quite come to terms with having two opposing banks of elevators and "always" turned right down the hallway when she exited her floor never realizing that she had come down a different facing elevator than she had gone up. Staff members were super at pointing out the correct hallway or, at worst, walking her to her room.

So getting around a ship can be as confusing for the young as well as the old.

Take a few days and see how orientated your Grandparents become. And yes, if you are worried about falls or your Grandparents show signs of dementia then, by all means, they should be supervised by someone in your party. As others have said, test the waters and make the ultimate decision at the last possible moment. Short straw looses.

Also, leaving them in their room can be hazardess....like young kids, some of the elderly just can't be trusted to stay put.

This doesn't sound safe. Someone should stay with them.

This doesn't sound safe. Someone should stay with them.

I agree

You would have to bring your own helper.

 

If your parents are unable to manage without assistance and are left alone and that is brought to the attention of the medical staff, it is possible they will require you to remain with them 24/7 or end their cruise for safety reasons.

All cruise line contracts explicitly state that all passengers must either be of full physical capacity or have their "own" assistance. Because you are traveling enmass, it is likely that any physical problems exhibited by your parents would go unnoticed when in the crowd. However, once everyone escapes for the day, your parents inability to get around will be quite visible and under the passenger contract, the ship's captain would be within their rights to actually put your parents off at the next port. So I would seriously recommend that depending on the need of both parents at least one and maybe two of the crowd (the US has villages with fewer people as residents) remain behind.

Who in the heck leaves old, compromised people alone is a strange situation? There are 27 of you, figure it out.

I wonder if there is a crew member who is not scheduled to work during the time of the excursion and would be willing to spend time with your grandparents for, say, $50?

You might ask your cabin steward if he can find one of the staff girls interested in extra $ to watch them. My Father in early stages of dementia got out while we were napping years ago, got lost and was trying to enter others cabins. Desk called, said if we didnt watch him and it happened again we all would be thrown off at next port.Just a word of warning.

OP asked if help with elder care was available. It is not.

While everyone is trying to be helpful we really don't know the level of care gram and gramps need. Let's use the example of going to the bathroom. "Gran just needs a little help" Well, does she need assistance with opening that heavy door? OR does she need assistance with clothing management and personal hygiene?

To the OP, enjoy your family cruise and I know you will treasure the time with your loved ones.

My "favorite" (in a sartorial way) memory...watching a very, very elderly gentlemen at the buffet with spoon in hand going from steam table to steam table sampling all the intriguing offerings. His poor granddaughter, when she caught up with him, was, by extension, embarrassing for everyone.