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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.
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.
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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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Mostly Independent
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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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winsome1, please read my answer above, from December of 2012.
In your description I'd say the critical thing to do is get Mother sitting up straight in a chair before eating would be best. At the very least, have her sit upright in bed and prop her with pillows. Trying to eat lying down is really inviting trouble.Has a doctor or speech pathologist talked to you about eating practices to minimize food going into the lungs?
I have been caregiving my mother formore than 5 years whilst working. It was very challenging as my mum cannot walk since 2010 after her urine infiection complications. We need tolift, carry , feed wash forher . I t was quite challenign to caregive as well as to work . Now she has developed aspirational pneumonia. How do you do for her not to choke whilst eating. Everything is pureed and she eats in bed whilst lying down as she falls a sleep whilst feeding. How should Ihandle this situation. Anything I ned toknow to prevent from getting aspiration pneumonia.
The person should be sitting upright -- not laid back a little in a recliner, or slumped sitting in bed.
In some situations a double-swallow after each bite is useful.
Swallowing with the chin tucked can help in some cases.
For some people drinking through a straw increases risk, especially if they keep sucking the liquid in without pause between swallows or they have the straw deep into the mouth so that the liquid run down the throat immediately. (My husband did best with a straw and choked more from a glass, but that is something to observe and consider.)
Thickening liquids can be useful, to slow down their passage through the throat. Avoid foods that are troublesome. My husband couldn't eat popcorn; soup with thin broth and chunks of vegetables was far more troublesome than a thick creamy soup. Fruit skins were a problem. We did not chop or puree all foods, but we did learn which foods were most likely to cause problems and avoided them.
After a swallowing test a speech therapist can provide specific advice based on the type of problem observed. They can also instruct in some mouth and throat exercises to help maintain strength there.
To maintain a healthy lung system and to help with the constriction of the throat, contact a reflexologist to work on your Dad's feet and hands. The reflexologist can teach you how to do this. Also a good chiropractor can assist with balancing the entire body to help heal the throat and lungs.
For me the best has been to sit with my dad and make sure he doesn't try to keep putting more food or liquid in before his throat has relaxed from coughing. Make sure your loved one has had the pneumonia vaccine. There is a product called Luigi's Lemon Ice which does wonder on throats and when he was at his worst he was taking a bite of that between other bites. The cold with the lemon taste work chemical magic my speech therapist says ....she also highly recommends Diet Ginger Ale for similar reasons. I now grind all meats and try to keep a relatively soft diet for him.....but the real trick is to slow him down and take tiny bites.
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.
In your description I'd say the critical thing to do is get Mother sitting up straight in a chair before eating would be best. At the very least, have her sit upright in bed and prop her with pillows. Trying to eat lying down is really inviting trouble.Has a doctor or speech pathologist talked to you about eating practices to minimize food going into the lungs?
In some situations a double-swallow after each bite is useful.
Swallowing with the chin tucked can help in some cases.
For some people drinking through a straw increases risk, especially if they keep sucking the liquid in without pause between swallows or they have the straw deep into the mouth so that the liquid run down the throat immediately. (My husband did best with a straw and choked more from a glass, but that is something to observe and consider.)
Thickening liquids can be useful, to slow down their passage through the throat. Avoid foods that are troublesome. My husband couldn't eat popcorn; soup with thin broth and chunks of vegetables was far more troublesome than a thick creamy soup. Fruit skins were a problem. We did not chop or puree all foods, but we did learn which foods were most likely to cause problems and avoided them.
After a swallowing test a speech therapist can provide specific advice based on the type of problem observed. They can also instruct in some mouth and throat exercises to help maintain strength there.
Good luck in minimizing the risk.