Parkinsons/Dementia/Wheelchair - unwise to go out - quite late - v cold.

[CharlotteBog]

I have tickets for a concert this evening. It's about 0C - I guess it'll sink to minus later on. It's sunny so ice should melt.

I regularly take my sons' grandad out from his care home to the venue. It's easier to take him down in his wheelchair rather than try and get him into the car. It's about a 10-15 minute walk.

He loves music and enjoys going out.

I will bundle him up with blankets, gloves, hat, scarf etc, but am not sure whether I am being foolhardy with someone else's welfare. Is it unwise to take someone frail with limited communication out in these temps? I'll be wheeling him back at about 10pm.
The care home might have staff to help me in the car and I could call the venue to see if someone can help at the other end (walking frame, into wheelchair etc), but it's always seemed much easier just to walk down. In the time it would take to transfer from chair to car and then car to chair we'd nearly have walked there.

Unless he has copd or other serious respiratory illness, he should be fine

Getting out and being social will do him good

Will the venue be warm? Warm enough to warm him through if he comes in chilled?

Get him to sit on the blanket and wrap it round, otherwise the back of his legs might be quite chilly.

Also does he have problems with cold extremities? If so, can you get hold of some Hot Hands or take a hot wheat bag with you, to warm his hands or feet if icy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Hands-Hand-Warmers-Pairs/dp/B07JJNLXPT/

(Disclaimer: I have poor circulation and once my feet get cold, they stay cold until externally warmed. They're icy to the touch, so it's easy for someone else to tell.)

Remember to take a charged phone, in case you slip on the ice or have some other mishap.

(You probably know all of that, given you take him out regularly!)

What a lovely thing to do. I’d say wheelchair in the cold is no more risk than falling in/out of the car.

Thanks you.
To answer some questions.
No, he doesn't have any respiratory or other serious conditions.
The venue is modern and warm and he has good circulation for someone who is not very mobile.
I always have my phone with me and we will be in a small town so there will be people around.

I did smile at the image of falling out of the car. The last time I took him to this venue I did have some friends who helped transport him by car. It was a case of "How many competent adults does it take to get one person into a car".....

I’d say he’ll be fine if he’s well wrapped up. The care home staff wouldn’t have agreed to the outing if they thought it was risky.

Will you be able to transfer him without assistance from his wheelchair to concert hall seat? And if not have you booked a wheelchair space with you in the next seat? From experience most venues have very strict fire/health and safety regs and they want a wheelchair folded and stored away safely till the end of the performance. Their H&S regs are likely to prevent any staff helping you to transfer him from his wheelchair if he can’t remain in it.

I hope you have a lovely night out.

Sorry I missed where you said you’ve previously used this venue. Ignore me !

@Jitterybugs the venue is amazing.
I've been booking him (wheelchair space) and me (free companion seat) for a couple of years now. We are welcomed on arrival, reminded what to do in the event of a fire alarm, and checked on at the interval. The staff (mostly volunteer) will also carry our drinks into the auditorium, and sit with him while I pop to the loo.
When so much of his world has got smaller, it is so good to be able to access this.
It's great for me, too. Concerts are usually in the evening or at w/e i.e logistically easier than visiting him during the day during the week, I get to see some amazing music and artists and it's a hell of a lot more enjoyable than sitting with him in the home talking about what he hasn't done while he dozes on and off.

I think it's fine. You can warm the wheelchair using a hot water bottle.

@CharlotteBog that’s sounds like the perfect venue. I’m sure your son’s Grandad will thoroughly enjoy his outing. The change of scenery will do him the world of good.

Sounds like a lovely trip out for him!

He's lucky to have you, and I hope you both have great evening.

I was thinking about this. I have a furry covered one which will do the trick nicely.

Well, after all that, things didn't turn out as planned.
Everyone's OK.

I arrived at the care home, armed with my fleecy dry robe thing, a large crochet blanket, gloves, scarf, and a hot water bottle (which had sat on my lap for the journey there...quite lovely), he has his own hat, coat etc.

He was asleep. He often dozes and can be easily roused. Not this time, he was out for the count. He'd had visitors in the day, and been to yoga, and we'd taken him out for lunch yesterday. So maybe it was all too much.
After a little time trying to engage with him, we decided it wasn't the best idea.
Wheeling him in this cold, dark with possible ice patches, and with him sleepy might not have ended well. He also might have been unsettled at the concert which would have been disruptive (though it was a loud concert so it wouldn't have been a problem this time).

So, I went on my own. I did phone the boys' grandma* to see if she wanted to join me, but she has dementia and got very confused and time was running short so I abandoned that idea.

The concert was great. They were happy for me to have my companion seat w/o my companion!

*I refer to them as the boys' grandparents as I am not longer with their son (my ex, the boys' Dad). They are divorced and grandma is remarried. They both live in the town near their marital home. I get on very well with them and it's important to me the boys' see their grandparents.

Best laid plans... Sounds like the right call.

I'm so glad you were able to enjoy the concert yourself.

Sounds like a great idea - one to store for the future.

Our next concert is booked for a couple of weeks time. Fingers crossed this one will be smoother.

Hope you have a lovely evening!