In the twenty years since my dad died my mum has gone on holiday by herself once or twice a year, going on organised breaks with a trip leader etc. The last one she went on was in 2016. I was worried at the time about it as she has very limited eyesight and it was obvious that she was getting easily confused if not in familar suroundings. Last year she didn't go as she was waiting for an appointment for a minor operation to come through and didn't want to miss her 'slot'. As it was the op didn't happen till February this year. As soon as she knew it was going ahead she started talking about booking a holiday for this year. I didn't veto the idea, but didn't offer to assist, she can't read brouchures or see her credit card details to actually book anything. My brother on the other hand thought it would be a possibility as long as the company knew about her eyesight, and offered to sort one out for her. He was in denial about the increasing lack of mental capacity, even though I was pushing to get her to the GP for a referal. I reluctanly agreed, even though I though it was a bad idea, but then mum went to stay with him and his family. After a meltdown (he'd never witnessed her have one before) which shocked him and his wife and scared their eight year old, he is now backtracking on offering to book anything. The two of us have agreed to say that holidays won't take someone with a visual impairment without a companion.
I'm going to visit her tomorrow and am wondering whether to offer to go away with her for a short break, something we did a lot of when we were both much younger. In lots of ways I think it is a bad idea, one of the reasons mum is so keen to go is that she hopes to find the tour rep she fell in love with five years ago, and she thinks having someone else along will get in the way. Also though when she is in a good mood we get on great, it is all to easy for the two of us to fall out. I also wonder how much she'd get out of it. She can't see much, doesn't really remember places, and though fit for 90 finds walking any length of time exhaustig. However she does love chatting to people, even though her conversations now tend to be all about her, and meeting new people might do her good. Me, I like visiting museums, walks etc and can't stand lazying by a pool. All of that makes me think I shouldn't suggest we look for something, but on the other hand I'd hate to deny her something that might give her a bit of pleasure.
Have other had succesful holidays with parents in the early stages of dementia? Any tips?
I'm going to visit her tomorrow and am wondering whether to offer to go away with her for a short break, something we did a lot of when we were both much younger. In lots of ways I think it is a bad idea, one of the reasons mum is so keen to go is that she hopes to find the tour rep she fell in love with five years ago, and she thinks having someone else along will get in the way. Also though when she is in a good mood we get on great, it is all to easy for the two of us to fall out. I also wonder how much she'd get out of it. She can't see much, doesn't really remember places, and though fit for 90 finds walking any length of time exhaustig. However she does love chatting to people, even though her conversations now tend to be all about her, and meeting new people might do her good. Me, I like visiting museums, walks etc and can't stand lazying by a pool. All of that makes me think I shouldn't suggest we look for something, but on the other hand I'd hate to deny her something that might give her a bit of pleasure.
Have other had succesful holidays with parents in the early stages of dementia? Any tips?