Out and About!
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Assuring your senior loved ones enjoy community activities is important – and good planning can assure a successful outing. Should the senior be in a wheelchair or use a walker or a cane, it is especially important to understand the challenges of the environment ahead of time. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of visiting the place ahead of time,” said Lori Capers, CRTS, Recreational Therapist at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. “This is a lesson I learned the hard way many years ago! Today, I always take the time to do a reconnaissance visit and speak with personnel at the site to be sure I know how things will work!” Why is this so important?
- While restaurants, theaters and other venues truly want to accommodate, there are often surprises. Check to see if there is enough room in the restrooms to accommodate the needs of the senior you accompany. Check the entry doors – is there more than one door to manage and is there enough room for a wheelchair between the doors? Where is the handicap seating at a special event, and how will the line of sight work for your special person?
- Staff will be able to tell you if there are special requests you should make prior to your visit.
- Be willing to be an advocate for your loved one. Sometimes it is necessary to ask a few questions and search with the staff for a workable solution so the experience is rewarding. This can feel uncomfortable for your senior – but when arrangements are preset, the outing can proceed without “hiccups!”