Destination Accessible

We were two senior women living on Long Island who, after going to places we hadn’t visited in years, realized destinations may become more physically challenging as we age.  Both of us have experienced being temporarily disabled.  One of us spent time on crutches in a full leg cast and the other spent several months in a wheelchair as the result of an accident.  One of us has an elderly father who has used a cane, walker, and now a wheelchair. One of us had a husband who had limited mobility for several years before passing away.  Being of that “certain age,” we both have friends with mobility issues due to illness or accidents.  If one has a heart condition, walking up a hill may present a challenge.

The elderly father lives in Florida and is visited regularly by his daughter.  He has always been a very energetic man with many interests, who still wants to experience life, but now has mobility issues.  Trying to find easily navigable destinations has been difficult. A venue may state on its website that it is handicapped accessible, but that is not a complete description.  What is the surface material of the parking lot? How far is it from the entrance?  Do you have to walk down a cobblestone hill to get there?  Can you easily get to the restroom, and how is it configured?