I just thought I would put some observations out here for anyone else that is thinking of traveling with the elderly.
Last fall I spend a couple weeks in Europe with my father he was 86 at the time and in relatively good shape for his age. But has minor issues climbing stairs of more then one or two flights, (needs to catch his breath)
We landed in London and spent about 5 days. Dad tried every. Walked everywhere and even walked around the Tower of London’s wall and with the occasional seat on a bench made it up the Tower itself.
Once in a while at the end of the day we would take a taxi as it was easier on him.
The things we learnt were as follows.
The Tube.
Just because a station has an entrance near you does not mean you are anywhere close to the tracks. The station in/near Trafalgar is an example of this, That is one VERY long walk from the entrance to the tracks.
Many (most?) stations are not very friendly to folks that have issues with stairs, I knew this going in but anyone from Tge USA may be surprised as our ADA law would not allow that no mater how old the station. I have been in 110 year old steam train rides in the middle of the woods in West Virginia (perhaps our poorest state) that had full disability access. And in trails in the middle of the mountains in Pennsylvania but this is NOT the situation in London (or France).
That being said the passengers were the nicest I have encountered anywhere. First day on our first train Dad did not get into a seat before the train took off (a lot faster then is typical in most US subways)) and he kind of slipped a bit and three passengers grabbed him to help stabilize him and help him into one of the seats.
So if you get on a tube train grab the first seat you can the acceleration is significant.
The rest of our trips were as nice. People asking if we needed help when we studied the map.
And once at rush hour a full train pulled in. I did not expect to get on as it was packed like sardines. No danger of falling as there was no room to fall! Someone noticed Dad and his stick and it was like Moses parting the Red Sea. A couple folks stepped out and a gap was opened to seats. Two people got up to let him sit down and insisted I sit with him. It was truly amazing.
Later at British Museum there was a very long line to clear security and Dad was tired from walking and his knee hurt (he had it replaced after we got home). I asked a guard if he could it while I stood in line as there was not any obvious way around. And the guard called him over and sent us through another way that avoided the line completely.
I talked with a couple of police officers waiting for the changing of the Gaurd and the told us the best place to stand (it was truly THE best place) for my dad to see. Without my even asking about that, I was just asking why some had the Tall Helmets and others has Flat hats like most US police. But they went out of there way to be friendly and help make our trip wonderful.
In general our time in London we encountered the nices people on a regular basis. Oh there were the occasional issues. A bit ubrupt in a pub and such bet overall The nicest collection of folks I have ever ran into anyplace while on a tourist trip.
The one downside of the wonderful underground is that using it requires a huge amount of walking and often stairs. The buses are better but even those do require a good amount of walking, so be prepared to supplement them with the occasional taxis trip, it is false Economy to safe money but do so much walking that our elderly companions are to exhausted to enjoy themselves. And keep the overall trip in mind. I think we walked so much in London that my dad was a bit worn out by the time we got to France