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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
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V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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She has had dementia for 2 years. Yesterday afternoon I noticed the back door was open, and she was outside, with no winter clothes on. Fortunately, she didn't go to far, but i'm nervous because we live on a busy street.
Yes wandering is scary. My mother 81 has dementia and a few weeks ago she wandered off and was lost for 4 hours. I was beside myself with worry. Thankfully a man drove her to the local shops where her hairdresser spotted her and contacted me. She was so dehydrated (it was a very hot day) and sunburnt that she was hospitalised for a couple of days.
Just have to ask, does she wander throughout the house as well, or just to the outside? Perhaps, if this was unusual, there was something outside that caught her attention. Maybe a bird or squirrel or something. IOW (in other words), maybe this isn't the start of a trend, but just an isolated incident. No less scary, I'm sure.
So far we haven't dealt with MIL wanting to wander, but we did with FIL while he was still living at home. They installed dead bolts up higher than usual and they were the kind that had to have a key on both sides. The key was hung on a nail nearby for safety, but he didn't know that. That kept him in the house.
To keep him out of a bedroom that was being used for storage, just a change of doorknob was all it took. They installed a keyed doorknob and kept that room locked. Too much extra furniture and boxes and stuff sitting around for him to try to walk around.
I have heard that a "stop" sign will work too. The red and white kind, it can be homemade. They see it and stop.
Thank you everyone. This is helpful, I guess I will investigate ways to start "locking down" my home. Alarms will be helpful. Someone is usually in the home with her all day, but not always in sight. She does NOT want to go to a facility, and we don't want her to either...
"Memory Care" facilities (often units within assisted living or nursing homes) are set up to be secure, that is, so that the residents cannot easily leave the premises. Exits are locked, and even elevators require a pass code. Some of the more creative escape artists wear ankle bracelets that broadcast their whereabouts.
For Grandmother to continue to live with you safely you'll have to set up your place as a security unit. Locked doors for starters. Perhaps alarms. Maybe a tracking device on GM. Search this site and others and you'll find suggestions for dealing with wandering.
This is a serious dementia symptom. It can be hard to deal with. Know that this is Not Your Fault, and certainly not something Grandmother can control. And, as far as I know, there are no treatments that reduce the urge to wander.
I sincerely hope that you can put enough practical measures in place to enable you and GM to continue to live together. If/when it is time for a care center, realize it will have to be a secure facility.
I agree that there is so much to be aware of when your loved one has dementia and especially if they begin to wander. It can not only be scary, but can pose a real risk to your loved one.
I was very surprised when my loved one began to wander. She already had significant dementia, was in an Assisted Living facility AND was in a wheelchair when she started. Plus, she was a real indoor kind of person, but it didn't matter. She would roll herself out into the parking lot and try to get into various cars, believing they were her car. She had no regard for safety or even where she was. I had to place her in a Secure Memory Care facility for her own protection.
Since your grandmother is in your home, you may want to find some ways to keep her safe and secure there. I know I have read some good ideas on this site before. Some involve alarms. I do know that it's challenging, because it's a 24/7 responsibility. They can even get up during the night, so it's really tough.
Do you have someone who can stay with her all day?
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
To keep him out of a bedroom that was being used for storage, just a change of doorknob was all it took. They installed a keyed doorknob and kept that room locked. Too much extra furniture and boxes and stuff sitting around for him to try to walk around.
I have heard that a "stop" sign will work too. The red and white kind, it can be homemade. They see it and stop.
"Memory Care" facilities (often units within assisted living or nursing homes) are set up to be secure, that is, so that the residents cannot easily leave the premises. Exits are locked, and even elevators require a pass code. Some of the more creative escape artists wear ankle bracelets that broadcast their whereabouts.
For Grandmother to continue to live with you safely you'll have to set up your place as a security unit. Locked doors for starters. Perhaps alarms. Maybe a tracking device on GM. Search this site and others and you'll find suggestions for dealing with wandering.
This is a serious dementia symptom. It can be hard to deal with. Know that this is Not Your Fault, and certainly not something Grandmother can control. And, as far as I know, there are no treatments that reduce the urge to wander.
I sincerely hope that you can put enough practical measures in place to enable you and GM to continue to live together. If/when it is time for a care center, realize it will have to be a secure facility.
I was very surprised when my loved one began to wander. She already had significant dementia, was in an Assisted Living facility AND was in a wheelchair when she started. Plus, she was a real indoor kind of person, but it didn't matter. She would roll herself out into the parking lot and try to get into various cars, believing they were her car. She had no regard for safety or even where she was. I had to place her in a Secure Memory Care facility for her own protection.
Since your grandmother is in your home, you may want to find some ways to keep her safe and secure there. I know I have read some good ideas on this site before. Some involve alarms. I do know that it's challenging, because it's a 24/7 responsibility. They can even get up during the night, so it's really tough.
Do you have someone who can stay with her all day?
https://www.agingcare.com/search.aspx?searchterm=dementia+and+wandering