Seven Things To Do With Your Elderly Parents In Kingston

Kingston is a beautiful, ancient market town, set on the edge of the River Thames. As well as being the place where Saxon kings were crowned, it holds a royal charter and is one of the oldest towns in England. Although accessibility wasn’t top of the list hundreds of years ago, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy with an elderly, less mobile relative.

Whatever type of elderly care at home your parents need, whether it’s live-in care in Kingston, home care, companion care or maybe just a little help with mobility, there are places where you can all have a great day out together as a family.

We list eight great places in the Kingston area to consider visiting with your elderly parent.

Hampton Court Palace

Henry VIII’s grand palace is set just outside the town of Kingston and has strong associations with the Tudors. It was finally opened up to the public by Queen Victoria and is a lovely setting for a family day out. There are acres of gardens at Hampton, many of which are accessible for wheelchairs and for those who are less mobile. In particular, the Magic Garden has wheelchair-friendly pathways, lots of seating and a cafe with an accessible toilet.

The house itself has many routes that don’t use stairs, and there are lifts for accessing the first floor. There are some manual wheelchairs available on site, and you can pre-book tours in a powered wheelchair.

Many of the stairways at Hampton Court are both wide and have shallow steps making them easier to climb, so you may find your parent can use these without too many problems. The palace also provides free entry for carers, so should your loved one have companion care, full-time care or similar, their caregiver could accompany them for free on a trip to Hampton Court Palace.

Shopping

Being a market town, Kingston is well known for its shopping, and large parts of it are pedestrianised and therefore reasonably accessible. Alongside the historic market, there are also plenty of shops, in particular along Kingston high street. There are also shopping centres such as the Bentall Centre, which has accessible toilets, and Eden Walk which has wheelchair access and even offers the Shopmobility scheme.

Kingston Museum

Museums are interesting, entertaining and informing for all ages, and for those with dementia, reliving past events through historical images and objects can be beneficial and stimulating.

Kingston Museum offers free admission and has level access to the building, a wheelchair lift where required and wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Canbury Gardens

A Green Flag-winning park along the edge of the River Thames, this green space would be the ideal place for a gentle stroll or maybe even a picnic lunch. Being mostly flat grassy areas cut through by well-maintained pathways, it is reasonably accessible and a tranquil place to take a break during a day’s sightseeing.

All Saints Church

This imposing 12th-century church stands on the site where many of our Saxon kings were crowned, including Athelstan, commonly held to be the first true King of England. In fact, the café in the church prides itself on being the “café where England began”. The church is filled with history and fascinating facts and often holds talks or musical events. All Saints can accommodate wheelchairs, as well as having accessible toilets, making it suitable for you and your parent to visit whatever their mobility level.

Kingston Riverside

Enjoy a picturesque walk down by the riverside, and maybe pop into one of the many restaurants or cafes that have sprung up there over the last few years and treat yourself and your parent to a delicious lunch. There are outside eating areas, offering the chance for you all to eat al fresco too, weather permitting.

River Cruises and Trips

If mobility allows, you could consider taking your relative on a passenger boat and enjoying a trip along the river. From March to October, companies offer several destinations and varying lengths of cruises to suit you and your parent’s needs.

A trip to Hampton Court, or even down to Richmond, along the Thames could be a great way for you and your parent to relax and enjoy the scenery.

At Elder, our 24/7 elderly care service and private live-in care options provide everything that your parent or loved one needs to live comfortably in their own home. Whether you’re looking for live-in care in Manchester, London or even Scotland, Elder can help. We provide live-in care throughout Great Britain and can arrange care for your loved one in as little as 24 hours.