Local Restaurants that Will Turn a Senior’s Head
Seniors have done a lot to help make this world a better place. They deserve to be spoiled. I have learned that seniors are not always able to tolerate large spaces and lots of noises due to the natural aging changes that occur. So, if you want to turn a senior’s head think about the surroundings in the outing to consider their specific needs.
A great example of this is my mother in law. She is hard of hearing. If I were to pick a coffee shop to take her, I should consider the background noise and the ability of the shop to provide true conversation with her. I can mostly think of locations that will not work for her due to background music and poor absorption of noise. Legendary Doughnuts in Orting has a great back room where I could carry on a great conversation with her while sipping a latte and splurging on a maple bar the size of my shoe.
If I want to take her out for a meal I would avoid the popular locations that have lots of noise as she would turn off her hearing aid and conversation would be frustrating. While my mother is not hard of hearing, she too gets more distracted if there is a lot of noise and even lighting I have noticed can be difficult. I love having a nice lunch at British Bites in Puyallup to enjoy some quality motherly bonding. What makes it so nice is simplistic design, and adequate lighting. This reduces distractions and makes the seniors in my life so happy. Let’s face it after 40 I could use the less distractions for deep conversation myself. I deem the 2 locations I mention so far as Senior Friendly.
Let’s say there is an outing you really want to do with the senior in your life. Here are a few places I would recommend you dive in to seeing with that senior.
While doing the research for this article I will tell you that I had to think of the times I have senior my own elder mother laugh. I bought bubbles and we blew them on a sunny day on the Tacoma Waterfront. She loved it. We were able to ride the Seattle Ferris Wheel and I will say that as long as the line wasn’t too long (avoid week ends) then she enjoyed the simple ride. Parking for a senior that can’t walk well wouldn’t love it but they are currently renovating down there so hopefully senior friendly parking will pop up. Because a ferris wheel ride should bring most seniors back to their childhood memories. Below are some other options I tested with my own seniors and came out smiling.
- Legendary Doughnuts – Orting, WA
- British Bites – Puyallup, WA
- Daffodil Bowling Alley’s Restaurant – Puyallup, WA
What makes a location senior friendly? I am so glad you asked.
- Good lighting. Not too bright but not too dim. Vision for a senior is already impaired just from aging and the reduced function of the rods/cones in the eyes. The lighting is essential to make a location “senior friendly”.
- Noise control. Hearing tends to reduce as we age either from damage or normal signs of aging. So limited background noise allows a location to be senior friendly.
- Easy accessibility. If there are narrow walkways or steps then senior friendly a location is not.
- Patience when ordering. Whether is waiting in a line or ordering a location, it is only considered senior friendly in my book if they accommodate the wait. Seniors need more time to process menus and/or read instructions. The senior needs to have the time to adequately review instructions or menus. Meaning , you better be patient if you want my rating.
- Parking. The parking needs to be close by and there needs to be enough relative to the location that a senior is able to access even when busy. I am pleased to announce several locations scored well in this arena but then failed in most other criteria. Our seniors need to be able to park close enough that they aren’t worn out once they walk in a location. The smartest way to eliminate this as an issue is have >80 parking spots aside from handicapped. I love this idea but it hasn’t caught on. If you know of a place honoring our seniors in this way please share with me and I will be glad to share with the readers.