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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.
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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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I would tell her that the agency said no bonuses, so we have to keep our thank you between us. Then give her cash in a card with a copy of the letter that you send to the agency praising her for everything she does and how awesome she is.
I don't think it is any of the agencies business if you want to show your gratitude by giving the actual caregivers a TIP or gift. They just want their cut and it isn't for them, they get paid, it is a personal expression to the person that has stepped up and gone the extra mile to ensure that your loved one is receiving excellent care.
This is a really bad idea. You would be risking the aid's job and you are asking her to lie/go against her employment contract. Follow the rules. Write the aide a nice letter.
It IS the agency's business if their aides do not follow the guidelines of their business. What you are suggesting would be a very unkind thing to do to a nice person.
Going against the rules and asking the aide to "keep quiet about it" could put the aide's job at risk. Not at all a nice thing to do to a nice person. Go along with the rules. Write some nice letters. Ask if there is an agency holiday fund you can contribute to, but don't put a nice person in a bad place by asking her to break the rules of her employment.
I wanted to give the activities director at my mom's place a little something for Christmas last year to thank her for her work in general and because we had something in common (a love of reading). She told me she could lose her job if she accepted anything. That really broke my heart, but I didn't want to endanger her job.
As was mentioned below, I did send a letter to the bosses praising her work. It's all I could do.
I have sent Edible Arrangements to places that were helpful to mom and very supportive to me. The day care, the doctor's office and the memory care. It was enjoyed by everyone and healthy! You can even order them chocolate dipped if you want.
Separate aide? Give her what you like and tell her not to offer the information to anyone.
Hi, When my mom was home and we had an aide, we got her a gift card to a local store. She was appreciative. Now mom is in a NH. I wanted to get something for the staff also. The NH didn't want individual gifts, they wanted something for the staff. I happened to be in their lunchroom and saw a Keurig, I bought them several large boxes of K-Cups and brought in coffee cake the day I delivered it to them. I too thought of giving gift certificates to a local pizza place for a delivery order this year. It is so hard this year as they don't want anything homemade. I may do the k-cups again with a pizza gift certificate.
Write a letter to her boss saying how wonderful she is. That is very nice of you to consider. I am not allowed to accept gifts and would be very grateful if someone did this. I have to donate any gifts I receive.
I recently had about 8 weeks of caregiving after surgery. I talked to the manager and he said caregivers (I guess his company) are not allowed to keep money, they have to turn it over to the manager. He also said I could give a gift, like flowers or fruit. He also said I could give gift card. I asked if there was a $$ limit on gift card and he said there wasn't. Now, that was for his company. So check back with the company and get their policy. I believe if there is one outstanding caregiver, it is nice to show appreciation. And I had only one outstanding. The rest were so-so. But I didn't have enough work for them to do, unless I gave them housework, and I found that unnecessary on a daily basis. But this one went out of her way to make me comfortable, I could trust her with my credit card for groceries, and she took measures to help me over a short bout of Covid with her ministrations.
Check with the caregiver's agency for their rules. Most home health aides make minimum wage; the agency pockets the rest of your money (it is a business and has business expenses). If you truly want to help your caregiver, give her a gift card to local grocery store/department store like Walmart, Target... She can use that gift card to buy groceries or anything she needs. I especially like the idea of giving a gift card specific to that store since there are fees with the credit card-type ones that diminish the actual value.
This is the best idea I've read so far... caregivers are typically underpaid for very hard work. After my sister died, I gave each one of the caregivers at the board & care a thank you card with cash inside. I also like the idea of a gift card to Walmart or Target, both places where groceries are sold. Most caregivers have families, and things are probably more difficult during this pandemic, particularly during the holidays.
I wouldn't ask the agency for permission, nor would I tell them.
I would give the caretaker a Christmas card with a gift inside. This is something for the specific caregiver and it is showing your appreciation for the care they are giving your family member. You don't have to tell the company, and for the company buy them a box of chocolates or fruit.
It is the season and it isn't a bad thing to show your appreciation.
One of the reasons an Agency will make a policy of "no gifts" is there are some clients that can not afford to give gifts of any kind. And there are others that while the person they are caring for may want to give a gift the "purse strings" are held by someone else either court appointed or chosen POA. It places some caregivers in a situation where they could not receive a gift even if it were allowed. And then there are the stories where a caregiver is financially taking advantage of the person they are caring for. Now that said... I would give the caregivers I hired a Gift Card. the limit was $25.00 (this was to keep it fair to each of them) but I also wrote a letter for each of them that they could use as a reference letter and the ones that worked for an agency I wrote a letter to the agency as well.
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 don't think it is any of the agencies business if you want to show your gratitude by giving the actual caregivers a TIP or gift. They just want their cut and it isn't for them, they get paid, it is a personal expression to the person that has stepped up and gone the extra mile to ensure that your loved one is receiving excellent care.
That's what I would do.
It IS the agency's business if their aides do not follow the guidelines of their business. What you are suggesting would be a very unkind thing to do to a nice person.
To me, this is a personal between you and the aide.
Do what your heart tells you to do.
As was mentioned below, I did send a letter to the bosses praising her work. It's all I could do.
Separate aide? Give her what you like and tell her not to offer the information to anyone.
When my mom was home and we had an aide, we got her a gift card to a local store. She was appreciative.
Now mom is in a NH. I wanted to get something for the staff also. The NH didn't want individual gifts, they wanted something for the staff. I happened to be in their lunchroom and saw a Keurig, I bought them several large boxes of K-Cups and brought in coffee cake the day I delivered it to them. I too thought of giving gift certificates to a local pizza place for a delivery order this year. It is so hard this year as they don't want anything homemade. I may do the k-cups again with a pizza gift certificate.
I wouldn't ask the agency for permission, nor would I tell them.
It is the season and it isn't a bad thing to show your appreciation.
It places some caregivers in a situation where they could not receive a gift even if it were allowed.
And then there are the stories where a caregiver is financially taking advantage of the person they are caring for.
Now that said...
I would give the caregivers I hired a Gift Card. the limit was $25.00 (this was to keep it fair to each of them) but I also wrote a letter for each of them that they could use as a reference letter and the ones that worked for an agency I wrote a letter to the agency as well.
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