Old people help

[RuthlessBoss]

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.

 

He just asked a question, yes. Do we know level of care? No. I have no doubt someone will stay behind if need be.

[JustCruiseMe]

If you are in your roll call you could ask if anyone isn't going to shore that day and offer to pay them a bit to check in on your family. I know I would be more than willing to do something like this for someone.

[OCruisers]

Probably one of the other 25 of you might not care to go as much as others and would volunteer to stay. One of you really should stay with them. ;)

[SASA13]

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!

 

Bravo..my thoughts exactly

[Hotdog 52]

Step up, take responsibility, have family members there to care for them.

Edited July 26, 2016 by Hotdog 52

[BallFour4]

Before I give you and answer OP, know that crew members on the ship just don't have a day off where you can ask them to watch your parents. A day off means 4 hours or so for them to get a nap, do personal laundry or call home. There's no day off for virtually anyone on a cruise ship.

 

Even if one was available they would jeopardize their livery by assuming the risk of staying with your parents.

 

If your parents are too elderly to be even a little self-sufficient then a shipboard vacation might not be in their best interest. If they are close to what I describe then leaving them alone on the ship presents significant risk.

 

To your question the answer is no. You aren't getting adult day care on a Carnival ship.

 

.

Edited July 26, 2016 by BallFour4

[lyannea]

I agree that someone, maybe 2, NEED to stay behind and spend the day with your parents- should anything happen, even with a "babysitter", it WILL spoil the rest of someone's cruise, and, that would be your parents.

As a caregiver, I would suggest deciding g ahead of the trip as to who will stay behind.

And, more importantly, should there be someone in the family who spends more time in their lives with them, - it should not be that person.

They would appreciate the break- trust me.

[happy traveler69]

if you don't get one of the 27 to stay with them...!! omg! what is wrong with you?!! stop being selfish and stay with them! it is not the cruise line's responsibility to be elder cares for your family! no, to answer your question, there is no one available to care for the elderly!

I know I sound angry, it is because I am! don't go around paying crew members under the table either! suppose they can't do it and something happens? whose fault would it be? who would you blame? everybody doesn't HAVE to do that one excursion! tend to your family members in shifts if needed. uuuuuuugh!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Bookbug53]

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.

 

 

They are not sailing on NCL.

 

I guess I don't fully understand OP's question. If the grandparents are in such frail physical shape that they need assistance to move why would you leave them alone at all?

 

27 of you and ONE person can't be bothered to stay with them? They are your grandparents and in their 80s? Where does that put you in age? Adulthood yet?

 

There were/are so many other choices for a big family trip that would not involve taking them out of the country and abandoning them on a ship why the rest of you have 'fun'. Relying on care that may or may not be there.

 

The suggestion that crewmembers might take care of them is ludicrous.

 

I do hope they find a way to enjoy this trip. I know I wouldn't be able to knowing what a burden I was.

 

 

And your title for this thread is offensive.

[loveJake]

If your parents need 24/7 care why don't the 27 of you chip in and hire someone to care for them, maybe someone would do it just for the trip. That way you should all spent time with the parents, but also would have some free time to spend together and not have to worry about their care.

[SMSACE6]

Only you and your family can really know if they are ok on their own, but it sounds like your Mom and other family members are worried. They would just be worried the whole time on the excursion, so if it were me/my family I would have some one stay back with them, probably would just stay back myself, just for peace of mind. Better safe than sorry. Hope it works our for you. I think it is really sweet that you all included them in your family holiday:)

[kylesplash]

 

 

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.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Shoot 80's isn't very old. As long as they are able to move and think, they will be fine.

[summersigh]

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!

This post had good, solid advise. I totally agree that some need to stay behind and that there are years ahead you won't have the elderly couple to travel with.

[RuthlessBoss]

No point continuing to pile on, I doubt OP is coming back.

 

The OP is likely reading now. It says last activity 8:50. I still see nothing wrong about the question about elder care and the reason the question was even asked. The OP simply said they all wanted to go on an excursion, not that they'd actually leave them alone.

[erinmarie424]

I would take the memories of spending a day on a cruise ship with my grandparents and getting their undivided attention over an excursion any day.

[Elaine5715]

They are not sailing on NCL.

 

I guess I don't fully understand OP's question. If the grandparents are in such frail physical shape that they need assistance to move why would you leave them alone at all?

 

27 of you and ONE person can't be bothered to stay with them? They are your grandparents and in their 80s? Where does that put you in age? Adulthood yet?

 

There were/are so many other choices for a big family trip that would not involve taking them out of the country and abandoning them on a ship why the rest of you have 'fun'. Relying on care that may or may not be there.

 

The suggestion that crewmembers might take care of them is ludicrous.

 

I do hope they find a way to enjoy this trip. I know I wouldn't be able to knowing what a burden I was.

 

 

And your title for this thread is offensive.

 

I love this response...

[winddawn]

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!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Carnival offers 2 movies on the in-cabin TV each day, and they start every 2 to 3 hours. Room service is available. Perhaps they would enjoy some quiet time that day. Just remember most everything is usually closed on the ship when the ship is docked in port. So the casino and shops will likely not be available. The pools are usually open though as are the buffet and other lunch venues.

 

The only other thing I can think of is Carnival offers babysitting services for a fee. Perhaps if you contact Carnival's special needs department you could inquire if they would extend this service to your grandparents. I think they charge $6.75 per hour per child plus gratuity. I have not heard of anyone doing this, but it can't hurt to ask. Email is specialneeds@carnival.com They might be able to offer you some advice.

 

I hope you enjoy your family cruise!

[Roz]

Just because someone is trained or has experience as a babysitter doesn't mean they can perform eldercare. And the idea of paying the room steward is ridiculous - they have work to do!

 

Roz

[winddawn]

Just because someone is trained or has experience as a babysitter doesn't mean they can perform eldercare. And the idea of paying the room steward is ridiculous - they have work to do!

 

Roz

Who said anything about the cabin steward? Confused...

 

The OP stated the grandparents would likely be fine alone on the ship, but the family would just feel more comfortable with someone available for them. It didn't sound to me like the grandparents need any care.

[Roz]

Post #14 says "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. "

 

I did not make this up.

 

Roz

[meatloafsfan]

Perhaps you should consider paying a PSW to accompany them on the trip?

That way they will have a care person available whenever they need them and you won't need to spend your trip figuring out - "Who has grandma and grandpa?"

 

For the first trip after my mother had her stroke we paid for her caregiver to come along with us (it was a trip to Disney World where she'd never been and since she said she had always wanted to swim with the dolphins, I also paid for her to go to Discovery cove and Sea World). Although my dad and I ended up doing most of the care giving, it was nice to have another set of hands to help out - especially in new and unfamiliar situations.

[rjrpar]

Don't have any good answers but I hope all 27 people have a great family vacation

[dd likes to cruise]

If the OP is really reading, I'd say if you worry enough to ask the question - someone should stay with them.

 

I'm getting ready to do a week Caribbean cruise with my parents, age 92 and 89. I will not worry if I'm not with them every minute of the day on the ship, but we probably won't go on an excursion and leave them behind either.

 

Both of mine walk fine, still drive, and live by themselves etc.

[Valor2005]

If your sense is that this is your last family event with them, why worry about an excursion? The time for you to travel unencumbered by your elderly family members will come way too soon.

[Jana60]

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!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

If your grandparents are able to live alone at home they should be more than fine on a ship even if they have mobility issues. If on the other hand your grandparents require 24-hour assistance in a nursing facility at home then they will require 24-hour assistance on the ship also and your family will have to be prepared to supply it.