Accessible Electrical Outlets to Charge All Electronics – 18%
The key here is not the existance of electrical outlets in guest rooms at Disney, although important for sure. The key here is the word accessible. Most seniors are not acrobats.
As guest rooms at Disney are refurbished we have seen an increase in more electrical outlets, USB and USB C connections.
This is especially so at the night tables as in the picture below. This is absolutely fantastic.
Yet, what’s wrong with the picture below? The electrical outlets were beneath the table. I had to get on my hands and knees to use them.
And this was in the same guest rooms at Disney where the electrical outlet at the one night stand were placed so far underneath the top portion that you could not see them per the picture below. Every time I tried to connect something, once again, I had to get on my hands and knees to see there outlet, USB and USB C were located. I intentionally left the picture below unadjusted for the darkness; this is what I saw.
Space Inside Guest Rooms at Disney for Scooters – 12%
Many times seniors who use scooters are not able to reserve an ADA room.
Many of the Disney owned resorts at all resort categories are said by the members of the Disney for Seniors online communiuty. Yet, many still need or feel they need to park their scooters out in the hallway because there’s insufficient space inside their room.
This one is I think the toughest one to address from a cost perspective.
Yet, I wanted it mentioned since it was mentioned by so many seniors. There are those for whom suficient personal mobility to open the heavy door between their assigned guest room and the hallway is a challenge. They would benefit from being able to have their scooter inside the guest room with them.
Night Light in Bathrooms – 12%
I’m seeing this more and more. It is actually a money saver vor the hotel owner. With no nightlight in the bathroom we typically just leave the full bathroom light on all night. We then leave the door to the bathroom ajar. This is especially important for older adults and seniors as our eyesite naturally decreases as we age.
Lower Beds In Guest Rooms at Disney – 11%
This one is the most controversial amongs the Disney for Seniors members. Some seniors want higher beds. Comments favoring higher beds included the following:
“some of us might prefer higher beds! With back problems I find it hard to get up from a low bed”
” I’m tall with mobility issues. I can’t get up from low bed or chair.”
More seniors, however, responded they want lower beds. And yes, older adults and seniors tend to shrink in height. I used to be 5 foot 9 and 1/2 inches. Now I’m 5 feet 8 inches. It’s just a fact of getting old.
From a safety perspective, when sitting on a bed one’s feet should rest on the floor. One should not have to jump down off the bed. Some seniors mentioned that there should be a step stool to help them climb up onto and down from a bed. Yet, my spidy senses start to tingle with caution when I think of a senior with mobility challenges trying to use a step stool in the dark to not wake up their partner sleeping beside them.
Lower Beds for Safety the Concern of Many
Comments offered by seniors who responded included some of the following:
“Lower beds. Those of us with short legs have a very difficult time getting up on the bed. When I stayed at the Contemporary last February, I couldn’t climb up on the bed, I had to sleep on the pull out sofa. I am 67 and have slight mobility issues.”
“YES! I have to take a running leap to get in bed and my body can’t do either of those things anymore.”
“I was going to my nephews wedding up in Chicago and stopped in another city to visit a friend and spend the night. The hotel I had, had a bed that was so tall I could not get into it. I ended up having to leave the hotel at 11pm at night and find another one. “
“Just 2 inches lower would make a world of difference. I hate to have a step ladder to get into bed, especially when I have to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Not saying I want them low, just 1-2 inches.”
I don’t know what the answer is. Right now it seems no one is satisfied. From my research it appears that the recommended height from the floor to the top of the bed is somewhere between 17 and 23 inches. Some say between 18 and 23 inches. Others say between 20 and 23 inches. Yet, this is a safety issue. I wonder if there could be a grouping of guest rooms at Disney which indicated low or higher bed?
Electrical Outlet and Night Stands on Both Sides of Bed for CPAP – 6% and 3%
This is a pet peave of mine, because usually it is on my side of the bed where there is no night stand.
Yet, more consideration needs to be given. And now, some of the seniors are rightfully making this a safety issue.
What if both guests staying in the guest room pictured above used a CPAP machine?
And even if there was no CPAP machine needed by the guests, exactly where is the guest sleeping on the right side supposed to put their reading glasses, bottles of medication, water bottle, etc.? On the floor?
Ok, So Now Where Does This Leave Seniors?
This is where you, the reader come in. The only ones who will be reading this article are seniors, family members of seniors … or perhaps Cast Members involved with guest room design … or perhaps employees of non-Disney resort owners.
I’m pretty confident that member of the Disney for Seniors, or any seniors group really, would be willing to volunteer their time, the author included. We would be willing to collaborate to help with the design of new guest rooms and the redesign of existing guest rooms to address as many of the above with those with the authority to make changes happen with guest rooms which older adults or seniors would use.
Please leave your thought in the comments below on this topic, including any additional needs that typical hotel rooms have that are safety concerns.
