85 year old in Italy

Please advise Have fun... Was there a specific question there?

Just got back from Italy and my Dad is 81. He enjoyed every bit of the vacation. You have to remember that even thought they are at a slower pace my father got around just fine. Relax and enjoy the sights

Be careful walking on the cobblestones, especially if they're wet...this goes for everyone not just older people. I'm sure she has shoes that aren't stilettos...Make sure you have the generic names for any prescription meds, in case she needs more or has a problem with them or any other medical problem. Most older people get tired easily, so don't plan too much in a day, relax at a cafe or in your room as needed, you don't have to go from 06-midnight anymore! Earplugs? Does she need to have "her" pillow? Bring it, as a lot of times hotel pilllows are less than ideal. Medical insurance? Travel insurance? Make sure your hotels have elevators, can't always count on being on the ground floor. And the 1st floor in Europe is the 2nd floor in the US, so ground floor is our 1st floor. Have fun!!!

Best way to see the sights for someone with limited mobility is with a private guide, so you can control the pace and the rest periods. Group tours in buses, etc. that are overviews can also work, when you are seeing most sights on a drive-by. We were on a group tour in Italy that had a few age 80+ people most did beautifully, keeping the pace with those much younger. A few times, one or two would opt to not climb stairs (taking elevators instead) or would opt to stay on a bus or get a gelato instead at certain stops. For really hilly places or places with lots of stairs, the tour guide arranged for hotel service carts (think golf cart) for special transport for limited mobility folks. Maybe you could arrange something similar via the hotel. Even though your mom might not require a wheelchair, if available in certain places, using such might save her energy for places where it might not be available. Not sure if the Vatican offers wheelchairs, but worth checking. When you say short day trips, are you meaning trips within the cities or are you thinking trips outside into the Tuscan countryside, etc.? How often does she need to sit and rest? Every 15 minutes or every hour? Also might be good to enjoy a larger meal during lunch time vs. the evening. Yes, good advice already given re: checking out elevators, and make sure the hotel rooms are not long walks from the elevators. She's blessed to have a caring son as a travel mate. I admire those who are in the 80s/90s that keep going and living, just taking it maybe a little slower. Great role models for all of us aging boomers that there is hope for us :)

Bob, I hope to be traveling when I'm 85, with my Nordic walking sticks! Seriously, pace the days, be sure to keep hydrated, even in October. Some museums in Rome have wheel chairs available if you ask ahead of time - those corridors filled with art are longer than they appear!

Absolutely make sure that the hotel(s) that you are staying in have an elevator. I've found that this can be a huge problem when booking hotels in Italy, the hotel websites often aren't very upfront about their lack of elevator.

Bob, when my mother was that age we planned trips where she could do a lot of sight-seeing from the car window. If she felt like it, we could get out and explore. Sicily will lend itself to that, but not Rome and Naples. I hope you have done these towns before, and know how punishing the cobblestone streets will be. I also hope that you are staying in only a few places, and that your stays will be at least three to four days. One thing that my Mom used to love was when we all stayed in an apt. It gave us all time to talk over our plans, discuss what we wanted to do the next day, and let us snack/cook/drink informally, and as a family. Sometimes a B&B worked out great, 'cause Mom would always get special treatment, and loved talking to the other guests. Try to keep family time a priority. You are not going to have your Mom that long. My wife and I treasure the vacations we had with my Mom, and the ones where we shared in the total experience were the best.

She might enjoy a homecooked meal with a family that inludes a nonna with a family scrapbook and some bouncing nipoti. There is an organization of Italian women who, for a fixed charge, cook dinner in their homes for visitors. Their photos and bios are on the web site and the homes are all over Italy. The website makes all the arrangements and maybe theY would assist in picking one that you and your mom woul enjoy