Hi everyone,
We're planning a family trip with 8 people next year (late July). 2 teenagers, 4 adults, 2 senior citizens, staying in a lake house in Lucerne. One of the grandparents has a medical condition which limits her mobility - She doesn't use a wheelchair or walker, but can't walk even medium distances at a single time, so she has to stop and rest about every 50 feet or so. She has trouble walking around the block at home, and we're a bit nervous about how she will fare in Switzerland. She's visited me in England before and been OK, but we've had to drive even the short distances I'm used to walking.
Of course this presents some challenges as the adults and teenagers want to do a bit of hiking, which is fine and we've accepted that there will be some times when we need to split into two groups where one stays at the house and enjoys the lake, and the other does something faster paced. But I want to make sure it's as inclusive as possible. We're mostly in Switzerland for the mountains, nature, and history. Activities like land toboggans, museums, and mountain gondolas are along the lines of what we'd all like to do.
Can anyone recommend any sightseeing or activities within 2 hours of Lucerne and/or Zermatt which would suit both the Fasts and the Slows at the same time? Any strategies to getting around with limited mobility? Is it useful to rent a car (or two) or is it better to use public transport entirely? Thanks!
Posted by
Surrey, UK
1041 posts
My husband has a similar problem, which was severely limiting our holiday (and other) activities.
Earlier this year he bought a folding mobility scooter, and it has changed our lives!
We recently took it to Budapest by British Airways for a Danube cruise, and were amazed how easy everything became.
Till you start to look into accessibility, you don't really appreciate how accommodating travel has become.
By coincidence, I have just been looking into Lucerne. The intgrated Swiss transport system in fully accessible, as are the majority of attractions.
You can also rent mobility scooters in Lucerne.
It's worth having a car so you can put the scooter in the boot.
Worth thinking about.
Posted by
Switzerland
491 posts
she has to stop and rest about every 50 feet or so
I was trying to get an accurate read on what this might be like, and got this response:
50 feet is about the length of 4–5 parked cars.
It's roughly 5–7 seconds of walking for someone with a normal gait.
Would you say that is an accurate assessment? If so it would be very difficult to navigate public transportation. Being on the trains themselves would be fine, but moving along the platform, changing trains, etc would be difficult, especially at larger stations like Zürich.
There is also very often some walking involved in getting from the train station to gondola to go up the mountains.
Rigi is fairly simple to get to the top (Rigi Kulm), but then there is a short, steep climb to get to the restaurant/viewing area. Stanserhorn doesn’t have that, but there is a bit of a walk from the train station to the funicular up….you will certainly need to explore every part of the journey when you choose an excursion.
Is the individual open to a suggestion similar to what the previous poster shared? Honestly, that’s the only way I can see this being an enjoyable holiday for all of you.
Posted by
OP
Staffordshire, UK
45 posts
Yes, that's pretty accurate - She can walk a bit longer (maybe 100-150 feet) if the way is very flat, but if it is uphill, she will really have to stop every 50 feet or so. She has avoided scooters so far, I think out of a sense of pride/embarrassment, though will use walking poles which seem to help. I may try to get her to come around to a collapsing scooter, even just for this trip (I didn't know you could rent them in Lucerne - that'd be a great option), because I don't think she is truly aware of how long distances are when you don't have a car and walking is so onerous. I really appreciate the suggestions.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
1041 posts
I was really nervous about suggesting this to my husband, as I didn't know how he'd react. He was sold three minutes into the first demo!
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9752 posts
A cruise on the lake is a good option for everyone.
Posted by
London and Chester
435 posts
Speaking as someone with a progressive disability (MS) I totally understand pride etc stopping a person from wanting to use mobility aids etc, it is very hard to accept but for this trip at least some of that pride is going to have to go out of the window. If not, the trip risks being miserable for everyone.
Do you have a relationship where you can have that kind of conversation with her? Pride is all very well but if it makes it more difficult for everyone around you it is misplaced and unhelpful. Your trip is far enough off that there is plenty of time to find some aids, and they don’t have to be significant, that will really help.
Remember to book passenger assistance at the airports for your trip. Having used it, it really makes a difference negotiating airports where it feels like you will walk for miles.
If she has problems walking how is she with steps and stairs? Does she need a shower rather than a bath?If she is unsteady on her feet that will need to be taken into account when booking your accommodation. Again there probably need to be an honest conversation of what she can and can’t do
Have you travelled as a family group before? I’m asking because (speaking from experience) even the happiest family can become fractious when the different generations are forced together to enjoy themselves on holiday! Obviously you will want to spend some time together but planning different activities and then coming together in the evening can really help.
Posted by
OP
Staffordshire, UK
45 posts
Hi Emma, I do appreciate your perspective here. She can stand without any difficulty, her only trouble is with walking. I am not sure what the relevance is of a shower vs a bath. We have our accommodation sorted already. I was only asking if we would be better off with a car given the location, and if there are any activities/attractions people can recommend which don't require a lot of walking.
Posted by
London and Chester
435 posts
Hi BIC
I mentioned showers and baths because when I started to struggle with walking I also found stepping in and out of the bath increasingly difficult and eventually impossible.
Obviously everyone is different but is worth checking if there are any other issues/limitations that you might not be fully aware of.