Traveling with someone who has a stroke, bad heart, or otherwise disabled
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
July 7, 2008 12:35pm CST
I was wondering if anyone who has had a stroke, or is otherwise walks with a limp, or anyone who is married to one has had any experience traveling outside of the country. We live in Canada and I was wondering whether we should wait until we have to go to a senior apartment block or condo and the only way we can travel is in those tours, where all the seniors go together and they go in a bus and go along very slowly because of those in walkers or whether we can travel out of the country, like to the States, or on a cruise? I want us to travel outside of Canada before that happens.
My husband had a mini stroke and was wondering about the travel health insurance being through the roof so he wants us to just stick to Canada and I have already seen most of B.C. and P.E.I. lots of the Prairies and Ontario and have no intention to go to the North West Territories because I do not like cold, just because we have not seen all of Canada.
I mean do I have to see every square centimeter of it?
So for those who cannot get around as much, does that keep you at home or do you still go over the border?
I want to know if there are allowances made for people who cannot get along, cannot keep up with the others, etc. I know that on our cruise, there were accomodations for people in wheelchairs, but most of them were Americans and it was an American cruise ship, but I do not know about the Canadians who needed help.
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4 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Jul 08
I can talk to them, or we can go to our regular travel agency. I hope my husband will be up for it.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 Jul 08
I can do that. It should work. Now if only I can get the key to the garage so I can get the lawn mower or maybe get another one made.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
7 Jul 08
My grandmother had a few mini strokes. It was difficult, but I have a feeling that she was much older then your husband. Here is a link that might you help better than I can:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/recovery/151.html
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Jul 08
Thank you. My husband is sixty-two years old, and his family started to have problems like strokes in their sixties. He should have retired in his fifties and we would have had a better time for it, but that would have meant no pension and besides our house was not paid off yet. I did not see anything about traveling outside of the country thought, because that is what I was concerned about.
But thanks for your help.
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@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
7 Jul 08
I could not find anything on that part. However, I would ask his doctor since he knows he case better than anything you would find online.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Jul 08
I looked for that. The doctor he has at the medical center says he can travel as long as he gets out for a walk every two or three hours. I can live with that, because I cannot sit that long in a car either. Now he has to go to the physiotherapist tomorrow and find out what they say. He also keeps talking about a senior citizen residence and I do not think he is talking about an over 55 housing development, but one of those big apartment buildings where all seniors live, where there is a dining hall and when you go down there, most everyone is in those walkers, cruisers, or wheelchairs.
And they are so far away from the shopping centers. If anything, I would like to get into that apartment block an older friend of mine is in. It is near my granddaughter.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
8 Jul 08
Sorry I don't have any advice to offer but there is plenty of information out there. Try this one:
http://www.strokenetwork.org/
There are a lot of places that can help.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Jul 08
Thanks. I will give my husband the link. I hope it helps. I do want us to travel and not just in Canada. I do not have enough money to go on my own, when our Choir has a special concert like in Minnesota or North Dakota. Our church had a couple of conventions that were in North Dakota in the last few years and I could not afford to go to them, and on reflection, they would have done me some good.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
7 Jul 08
I have been on a cruise and can tell you that anyone needing help will get help, regardless of nationality. As long as you're willing to tip, they are willing to help. Most of the crew are international anyway and there are no cruise ships registered in the U.S. most are registered in Bermuda.
As for the tours, I am sure that there are special accomodations made for those with disabilities. The bottom line on these things is money (sadly) and they will do whatever is necessary to get yours. You might want to go through a travel agent this time as they have access to specialty tours that cater to certain types of physical impairments or are ready to if the need arises.
As far as medical assistance is concerned, you husband is right on that note. Financially speaking Canadian health care is far superior to U.S. health care. But you probably won't need it anyway as long as his doctor gives him the ok to travel.
I say go for it. A lot of his reservation may be simply the result of fear. It is very common in one who has had a heart attack or stroke. We can't just lie down and wait for the ambulance (just in case) we need to live our lives the best way we can. Enjoy life and deal with the possibilities later. Just try to be in the best health possible before jumping in.
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@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
8 Jul 08
Don't giv up dear, stay strong. I know you are a strong woman and you must try not to let them get you down. I had a little stroke about a year ago. Very minor, but I still have almost no feeling in the fingertips of my right hand. Makes it clumsy to get change out of my wallet, but it doesn't stop me from doing the things I want to do. My daughter and I will go to Las Vegas over Labor Day (we go every year)and there is a TREMENDOUS amount of walking required in Vegas. But a little pain is worth the trip to me, I just take a big bottle of Aleve with me. lol
My husband had a quintuple bypass about eight years ago after his heart attack and it has only been recently that he has stopped getting panic attacks when he gets short of breath. So, that's why I know that the fear is there in the back of their minds for a long time. It does get better over time.
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