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Who are you caring for?
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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?
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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.
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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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After rinsing his mouth and brushing his teeth, what else do I have to hide? What other behaviors like this are common? We are in assisted living. Not much else around and meds are locked.
Would it the right place to share that my old dad once confused toothpaste and hemorrhoid cream in the worst possible way. (I tend to stick funny things in in case a little laugh might be enjoyed. Please let me know if I should stop.)
I've read on the forum of people trying to eat inedible objects they have mistaken for candy or food and I think it's fairly common that any king of soap, lotion or cream might get used inappropriately. You might need to keep an eye on your toilet paper and tissue supply because at some point people seem to hoard it or stuff the toilet. You really just have to be vigilant and aware of where he is all the time because he has the mind of a toddler with the strength and reach of an adult.
Not to minimize your anxiety about you dear LO behavior but, as I read your post I thought thankfully it wasn't the toilet brush he was using. Most care homes use the standard of if the package or container says "keep out of reach of children " or "call poison control" lock it up. I thought that was a bit extreme, then the horror stories started. Now I am a firm believer, lock it up. Be very happy that he is interested in personal hygiene, so many loose that. Maybe keep a toothbrush and some toothpaste (maybe a child's brand) right visible for him. God Bless You and your husband on this most difficult journey.
Remember when your two year old proudly announced he had eaten all his vitamins--and he had climbed 6 feet to get them? In many ways, you are dealing with a child who won't recall any correction you attempt. It makes me angry to think that at 85, a good surgeon could make me look 30 but can do nothing to make me recall what day it is. I wish I could help. We need to get our priorities in order and do something to stop this disease. Anne1933
My dad brushed his teeth with his coffee the other day and insists on using a toilet cleaning brush (not one used for the toilet, as of yet) to scratch his back. Tons of dead skin and discolored lying on his nightstand. Gross. And I don't think he really has dementia much, I can't figure it out since he's always done abnormal things. Good luck miw, hug💜
I can make sense of the after shave - just - presumably he mistook it for mouth wash. But what on earth was he doing with the toilet paper?
Lock away all cleaning products, he could do himself real damage with those; also antiseptic lotions and creams, anything that really mustn't be swallowed. But most toiletries, like soap and shower gel, should be safe enough even if they do make him froth at the mouth alarmingly.
Is he even noticing these errors? Demanding to know why you've switched brands, anything?
Does your Assisted Living community have a Memory Care unit? It sounds like he will need that sooner than later. In the mean time you should try to get all the things he needs together before so that he does not have to try to figure out what to do. If you take all the steps that must be done to get ready in the morning it is a wonder we can get everything done. If his toothbrush is a light color like the counter and tiles you might want to get a brightly colored one so that it stands out. Even if you have one of the electric ones wrap a piece of red electric tape around the handle so he can see it easily. Same with the toothpaste. White toothbrush, light colored toothpaste tube white counter all blend in and it makes it hard to see things. Also if you have not run into this problem yet it might be wise to try to get him to sit on the toilet when he has to urinate (if he is still continent) it is safer and less likely to miss or drip. Also if the glass door on your shower has a bar on it you might want to think about replacing the door with a curtain. The possibility of using the bar on the door as a grab bar is great and they are not sturdy and can cause the door to shatter.
When I began caring for my elderly Aunt with severe Alzheimer's Dementia, I finally began to truly understand the depth of her disease. I had no idea that she was able to walk and talk and have conversation yet her drawers were filled with soiled underwear, mail, photos, socks filled with peanuts and or cookies. After cleaning up I had several bizarre incidents and now supervise her at all times by using Samsung Smartcams. One to record at all times in the bedroom and it will just record over once full. This way I can review the camera if a diaper goes missing. One is pointed at the bathroom door is set to alert and record "events" and my phone goes off so I can go and supervise anything happening in the bathroom. Before those cameras, I was overwhelmed. Panty-liner being used to brush teeth, antibiotic cream as toothpaste another time, pulling out the inside of Depends if soiled with bare hands and then wearing the shell. And the worst is yet to come... Thanks everyone for helping me to realize I am not alone on this unexpected journey.
meallen--LOL; don't worry, you're fine! Sometimes we have situations so frustrating we need assurance that we're not alone and we need to be able to laugh. One time my mother and I saw my grandfather walking around with a crowbar when he said "I was constipated and needed to get a tool" --and then we felt free to laugh only after we learned he only meant he was going to use it to unblock the toilet! (By the way, was a simple oral explanation sufficient to rectify your dad's confusion?)
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.
God Bless You and your husband on this most difficult journey.
Good luck miw, hug💜
Lock away all cleaning products, he could do himself real damage with those; also antiseptic lotions and creams, anything that really mustn't be swallowed. But most toiletries, like soap and shower gel, should be safe enough even if they do make him froth at the mouth alarmingly.
Is he even noticing these errors? Demanding to know why you've switched brands, anything?
In the mean time you should try to get all the things he needs together before so that he does not have to try to figure out what to do.
If you take all the steps that must be done to get ready in the morning it is a wonder we can get everything done.
If his toothbrush is a light color like the counter and tiles you might want to get a brightly colored one so that it stands out. Even if you have one of the electric ones wrap a piece of red electric tape around the handle so he can see it easily. Same with the toothpaste. White toothbrush, light colored toothpaste tube white counter all blend in and it makes it hard to see things.
Also if you have not run into this problem yet it might be wise to try to get him to sit on the toilet when he has to urinate (if he is still continent) it is safer and less likely to miss or drip.
Also if the glass door on your shower has a bar on it you might want to think about replacing the door with a curtain. The possibility of using the bar on the door as a grab bar is great and they are not sturdy and can cause the door to shatter.
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