Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
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.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
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.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
Medications can have some surprising negative effects so they must be checked regularly by a qualified professional. As people age they become more susceptible to these side effects. So she may feel terrible after taking her meds and for good reason not want them. Some medications are vital but others could possibly be withdrawn or at least prescribed in lower doses. You may find that her body is telling her something very wise. Good luck! Carol
Hopalong, oh the pill war, similar to the thermostat wars. It could be that your Mom isn't really being stubborn about taking her meds, it could be she is forgetting or forgetting what day it is if using a pill tray.
My Dad use to use a spread sheet to write down the dates of when he took pills but eventually that spread sheet started to gather dust. Then I tried the pill tray... it worked well for awhile but eventually Dad couldn't remember what day it was, so if he saw an empty slot of Tuesday, and it was Tuesday, and he didn't remember taking the pills, he would think it was Wednesday and would take the pills in that slot... oops, double dosage.
Eventually Dad had caregivers who were good about his morning and afternoon pills. But when Dad went to the main dining room at Assisted Living, he would forget to take his evening pills. Eventually I had to pay into an option where the facility would hold all his meds [no pills in his apartment] and give the pills during the day.
Why do you think she doesn't have any cognitive impairment?
Frankly, unless she's had a complete neuropsych workup that includes several hours of paper and pencil testing that includes assessments of reasoning ability, I would assume that there is some loss of cognition. Yes, she's "sharp as a tack", but she may no longer reason any better than a 5 year old.
Your mom is the owner of her body and it's her choice what to put into her body. No one else owns it nor is the authority on it. Since you say she is thinking clearly, then maybe you want to ask her why. Maybe the pills give her nasty side-effects, or perhaps she feels they are unnecessary. Maybe she would like to hear about alternatives to pharmaceutics. The most common cause of death today is pharmaceutics, especially poly-pharm. Many elderly people are on a cocktail of pills. Maybe your mom found out the truth about the effects of these pills, and has legitimate concerns. Ask!
There is technology called Tele-Medicine that dispenses medication at the time she is to take it and vocally reminds people to take their medications. The machine can also send a text to you or a caregiver when the medicine is not taken from the dispenser tray. Of course if she is really being rebellious and not forgetful she will pick it up from the tray and not take it. I think you need to determine the reason she is not taking it and address the underlying cause. I could speculate further the find the underlying cause of the lack of compliance is the best place to start.
My mom seems to think she knows more than the doctor and takes her meds as she sees fit; not as the doctor prescribes. She had a mini stroke last year, but still denies that as well. Her blood pressure meds are the one thing she seems to take seriously. She buys weird supplements online and every other quack device she can find (tommy copper, joint pills) instead of going to the orthopedist to get a cortisone shot or other treatment. My husband currently is living with her while I clean up things in another state to move where she is as well. For now, he is making sure she eats well, gets some exercise and does not fall and hurt herself. Our stance is that it is her health and as long as she is taking the important pills like BP, we are going to leave well enough alone. I guess bottom line is that it depends on what the pills are for that she is not taking.
Isn't it illegal to give someone any medications without their knowledge/ permission? It opens a whole kettle of worms -- can you prove that you only gave what was ordered? Are you crushing up pills that shouldn't be crushed?
For your own protection (legally) may I suggest that you get a physican's order (in writing) stating that you MAY give medications without the permission/knowledge of the patient.
Is it possible she's having side effects from her medications? This can cause you to reduce dosage. Let's say you take albuterol for asthma. Too much of the nebulizer mind will leave your heart racing within a matter of minutes, leaving you feeling weak and shaky, and you'll have to lay down for a while. This is a side effect of too much albuterol. I speak as an asthmatic and I also take other medications I'm trying to wean off of at least some point. Sometimes long-term use of any medicine can cause permanent damage, and for all we know, the patient may be experiencing negative repercussions from some of those medicines. Definitely have a talk with the patient and get the doctor involved because if the medications are causing damage, they can be readjusted or replaced
Do you live with Mom? I crush my Mom's meds and mix them with vanilla ice cream then cover with chocolate sauce. A sundae before breakfast and one after dinner and no more fights about taking meds.
Often when our seniors aren't taking their medications regularly, it is due to memory issues. Whether it's from dementia is something a doctor would need to determine through testing. As some have mentioned here, it might be helpful to have your mom tested to rule out dementia or some other health issue that is causing her to forget her meds on some days.
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.
Good luck!
Carol
My Dad use to use a spread sheet to write down the dates of when he took pills but eventually that spread sheet started to gather dust. Then I tried the pill tray... it worked well for awhile but eventually Dad couldn't remember what day it was, so if he saw an empty slot of Tuesday, and it was Tuesday, and he didn't remember taking the pills, he would think it was Wednesday and would take the pills in that slot... oops, double dosage.
Eventually Dad had caregivers who were good about his morning and afternoon pills. But when Dad went to the main dining room at Assisted Living, he would forget to take his evening pills. Eventually I had to pay into an option where the facility would hold all his meds [no pills in his apartment] and give the pills during the day.
Frankly, unless she's had a complete neuropsych workup that includes several hours of paper and pencil testing that includes assessments of reasoning ability, I would assume that there is some loss of cognition. Yes, she's "sharp as a tack", but she may no longer reason any better than a 5 year old.
For your own protection (legally) may I suggest that you get a physican's order (in writing) stating that you MAY give medications without the permission/knowledge of the patient.
See All Answers