Places to go off POP with two elderly people?

[J D Sauser]

Well, this is a great morning, because it is the start of a day that was never going to happen:
My parents will arrive from ZRH-MIA at POP this afternoon. This alone may not seem big news until one realizes that my father is almost 88 years old, frail and plagued by Alzheimer-Levi.
But my Mom really and dearly need some time off and we finally decided that it was also a good way to escape the Swiss mountain winter to come here an relax for almost 2 months.
They will stay with a personal help at one of the finest local (Puerto Plata) AI's, so she won't even have to concern herself about anything.
It all took quite a bit of organization and balls from their side, but it's "ON".

Anyway, I don't want to bore y'all with my family's adventures.
The question is:
Where can we go? What can we do?
My dad uses a wheel chair but I have a covered double cabin pick-up truck, so we can reach most locations well equipped.

I would love to hear about most anything and especially not leave out nature and local traditions related attractions.

We will definitely do the teleferico, maybe Ocean World, go to "el rio" and brew some sancocho with my Dominican family, go see "la fortaleza" and the malecon of mi Puelto Plata lindo (sadly we'll have to leave out the central park of POP as it's under re-construction, but I'll showcase our brand spanking new roundabout ).
I was wondering if it would seem doable to do a whale watching expedition to Samana (or are there any closer points). Do any know if the boats doing these tours can handle loading somebody on a wheel chair?

Thanks! ... J-D.

[Rocky]

This is the way I see it.
The best break that you can give your mother is to take your Dad out and leave her at the hotel to just relax and not have to be constantly keeping an eye out on your dad.
When my Dad was near the end, (also with Alzheimer's) my brother would take him places, because he liked being with him and because my mother needed a break.
It doesn't matter where you go with him, as he will be happy just to be with his son.
You can take him to the market, to the fort on the Malecon, to a beach, to a pool, it's all good.
Everywhere you go, you introduce him to people with pride, and he'll love it.
He'll be happy, and so will your Mum.

PS: The whale trip to Samana seems a bit tough for someone that old and frail, IMHO.

[anng3]

My mom had Alzheimers as well. To second what Rocky said I would add if you are comfortable with the caretaker I would leave your dad at home and take your mom on the adventures. I know with my mom after a while she would get very stressed going to new places. She was better off with a routine like walks, classical music, visits from people and foods she loved lit her face up.

[J D Sauser]

Well, we all would... except her. It's a conscience thing... old love and the denial of his condition. Being an Alzheimer-Levi mix, he can at times "seem" to be quite lucid and then fall into absence or go erratic. It's a though cookie to crack... if she could leave him alone (with the care taker) she could also could have found the courage to hand him over to a professional care facility, one or two years ago... It's a family thing... always 'till the bitter end.

So, while the help will give her peace of mind to sleep her hours and also sometimes enjoy a meal alone or at her pace, if we go anywhere, it will be "incoporate", in other words "the full monty".

I can handle that... I just need options and ideas which may be doable.

And Marco, yes, that's the plan... heck I might even arrange for you to get an audition.

The Malecon is ON.
Teleferico also.
El rio and the kids and "to'o el meneo", is booked too
and Kathy's mom is already shopping for the right ingredients for a great sancocho.



Thanks for all your kind thoughts!

... J-D.

[rendul]

My Mother and and Aunt come to the D.R. each winter for 6 weeks to 2 months. They are 87 years old and they are also twins. Both have some limits to their walking and memory. I took them on the bus from Cabarete to Santo Domingo and they loved it. It was a tour arranged in one of the shops in Cabarete, we picked up the bus on the main street, went all the way to Santo Domingo and saw the Cathedral, souvenir shops, did the tour of the Columbus residence and had all our meals supplied. We got back to our place late in the evening and they both enjoyed it immensely. I did a photo album for them of all the pictures taken and they keep this fairly handy when they are at home, to remind them of their adventure. I found it easier to do the tour route than organizing it myself as just keeping them from harm was a big enough task. Might be something to think about.

Good luck to you!

[marliejaneca]

Originally Posted by anng3

My mom had Alzheimers as well. To second what Rocky said I would add if you are comfortable with the caretaker I would leave your dad at home and take your mom on the adventures. I know with my mom after a while she would get very stressed going to new places. She was better off with a routine like walks, classical music, visits from people and foods she loved lit her face up.

I have to agree with the bolded part.

My grandmother had Alzheimers as well. She would become agitated when out of her familiar surroundings ( mind you that would encompass the whole trip!)

This is not to say that you can't take him places, but certainly small trips to surrounding attractions would give you the peace of mind that you can just leave and get back to the hotel quickly if need be.

Of course, I realize that this advice is not what you are asking for! You would like a list of places to go which you have not already mentioned, and since you are the only one who knows your father and what stage he is in, you will be able to figure this out on your own.

I think for those of us who have had to be a caregiver to someone with Alzheimers, we tend to jump in and give advice as it has affected us so dramatically. Sorry if we are off base in adding our comments, but just know that you have our support - it is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with.

Marlie

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by marliejaneca

I have to agree with the bolded part.

My grandmother had Alzheimers as well. She would become agitated when out of her familiar surroundings ( mind you that would encompass the whole trip!)

This is not to say that you can't take him places, but certainly small trips to surrounding attractions would give you the peace of mind that you can just leave and get back to the hotel quickly if need be.

Of course, I realize that this advice is not what you are asking for! You would like a list of places to go which you have not already mentioned, and since you are the only one who knows your father and what stage he is in, you will be able to figure this out on your own.

I think for those of us who have had to be a caregiver to someone with Alzheimers, we tend to jump in and give advice as it has affected us so dramatically. Sorry if we are off base in adding our comments, but just know that you have our support - it is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with.

Marlie

Nooo, you are welcome... your intentions are good.
He tires rapidly... that's also his age, but he seems to decay when bored and enjoy seeing things.

... J-D.

[BushBaby]

Hmmm, Being 88 years young & with Alzheimers he sounds just like his son!! Why not do what his son loves? Go to the Malecon for a drink & watch all the attractive girls go by??

Seriously J-D, I think the Whale watching would be good for your Mom but question the road conditions as being suitable for your Dad. Pot holes are the order of the day once past Sabaneta due to the recent rains! Have a word with Kim Beddall (her details are on this board somewhere) & ask her about wheelchair facilities on the boats. I would think a two day trip might be more sensible for your Dad though!

Cabarete beach for an evening meal?
A trip to Jarabacoa to see the moutainous area?
A trip round the cutural centres & museums at Santiago?

My Mother (84) enjoyed Ocean World so that should please both parents - Dad can go win all the jackpots at the Casino too!!!

Have fun - we expect to see something of you during their stay!! ~ Grahame.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by BushBaby

Hmmm, Being 88 years young & with Alzheimers he sounds just like his son!! Why not do what his son loves? Go to the Malecon for a drink & watch all the attractive girls go by??

Seriously J-D, I think the Whale watching would be good for your Mom but question the road conditions as being suitable for your Dad. Pot holes are the order of the day once past Sabaneta due to the recent rains! Have a word with Kim Beddall (her details are on this board somewhere) & ask her about wheelchair facilities on the boats. I would think a two day trip might be more sensible for your Dad though!

Cabarete beach for an evening meal?
A trip to Jarabacoa to see the moutainous area?
A trip round the cutural centres & museums at Santiago?

My Mother (84) enjoyed Ocean World so that should please both parents - Dad can go win all the jackpots at the Casino too!!!

Have fun - we expect to see something of you during their stay!! ~ Grahame.

You mean, we'd be better off taking him whale watching on Pedro Clisante at nite in Sosua?

Hey, I could drop him off at your place some day... you two could talk about the good ol' times! I know you Brits just love buffing up your French!

Cabarete beach supper is a good addition to the list, thanks!

... J-D.

[Lambada]

Would he be interested in watching/participating in artisan crafts? Watching the jewellery makers make jewellery, or learning how to roll a cigar? If you know some of the Haitian painters why not commission a portrait of your Dad? It won't look like what you'd expect in a portrait but it would give him 1-1 contact with the same artist over several days of the 'sitting' and when completed you could hang it in your home and your Dad would know there was a lasting momento of the holiday in front of you every day. Haitian painter because he & your Dad could both communicate in French (unless your Dad has Spanish as well?) And how about a visit to Hogar de Ancianos up on the main road going in the direction of Costambar? Then that could lead to a discussion of facilities for the elderly in the DR as compared to Switzerland. If he used to be interested in cars or driving take him to the quietest (!) gomero/talleres you can find so he can watch how they make mufflers here............ All of these things are very different to how they're done in his organised homeland, but in small doses and on a lucid day they could actually get him involved in some way, advising perhaps? Likewise, I don't know what he did in his working life, but if it was possible to visit a company/factory which does the same thing here he might find that interesting. Course, if he was an airline pilot, that wouldn't be possible..........