Taking elderly in-laws (86 & 88 ) on 500 mile trip.

Just be sure you are doing this trip for them, not for you. If they want to go, it will probably be OK. If you conjoled them into this trip, it will likely end up in disaster.

We used to take my mother for an all day, 400 mile trip to visit friends and relatives. She did well, needed some extra pain meds, but loved it. However, on the last trip she undid her seatbelt and we glanced in the rear view mirror to see her toddling to the bathroom @ 70 mph! We said *nothing* crossed our fingers and she made it, TG. After that, I rode back there with her. She died in 2011 at age 93.

Nearly two years ago, I took my parents in their small Class C on trip to visit my moms relatives (about 1200 miles round trip) At the time, my dad was 88 and mom was 76. I researched locations to stay along the route picking several options at different spots depending on when they got tired.

Our trip plans were changed when Dad got sick and had to spend several days in the hospital. Calling 911 in Louisiana works the same as calling 911 in GA, they even came right to the door of the MH I think they let Dad out of the hospital when they did because they knew he would be in MH traveling home rather than in a chair.

Although the trip didn't turn out exactly like we planned (we ended up skipping New Orleans and Grand Isle), it was worth every bit of the stress of planning and being in close quarters with my parents who I haven't lived with in over 35 years. At least once a month, my dad talks about how much he appreciated me going and my mom talks about how glad she was to get to see some of her family before all her cousins she was once very close to are gone.

My father was in his mid 80s when he went with us in the MH and my mother was over 90 when she was still going with us. We usually travel until we get a little tired and then find a spot for the night. We don't do well with schedules of so many miles. One time it took us 5 days from NE Detroit to Atlanta, GA. Another time we made it in one day.

fla-gypsy wrote:
I took two octogenarians on a 500 mile trip in one day in a car I will never do that again. You must have the patience of a Biblical Job!

Hey, watch your mouth you young whipper snapper. LOL

Wow! That sounds ambitious. Are they up to driving 6 hours/day for 2 days straight? I would certainly plan on stopping frequently. A lot of men need to "go" frequently at that age. Besides, they need to get out of the car and walk around every 2hrs to prevent deep vein thrombosis(blood clots.)

I took two octogenarians on a 500 mile trip in one day in a car I will never do that again. You must have the patience of a Biblical Job!

Does he use a walker? Will he need a wheelchair? Can he take a shower?
If you don't have one already, I would invest in one of those sturdy folding steps for the RV from Camping World. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/aluminum-folding-step/38293 It adds stability and traction getting in and out.
I would be sure to stop in RV parks with flat, level, paved parking pads if he is going to get out when you stop for the night. What a great gift you are giving them. God Bless.

So cool of you. They are very lucky that you are the person you are... So very cool!!! Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

I can't answer regarding things a stroke victim may need, but God bless you for taking the in-laws on the trip. It may be an inconvenience for you but they will enjoy it very much. I took my mother on an extended trip to visit our to children. Our trip was a little over 500 miles but we could travel one day and be at our daughters, and another day to be at our son's then another day back home. Of course we stayed at each stop a few days so it wasn't too tiring. She never forgot this trip. Just sorry we didn't do it when my father was alive too.