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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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Your father is 91 years old. If he wants to drink and the AL he lives in allows drinking, then I say more power to him at his age. The fact that at his age he can still throw them back is amazing and remarkable.
He's in AL and being looked after. At 91, he's going to die of old age not alcoholism. So leave him alone and let the guy enjoy his drinks.
Yes, they could. Unfortunately, some people want to drink themselves to death. It's happened in my own family, and it's tragic, but that's how powerful addiction can be. You could back off, if you like. If it's too painful to watch, that's what you may want to do. There are no easy fixes.
"Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is caused by a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that damages the brain. Thiamine is vital for brain cell function, and a lack of it can have severe and long-lasting effects. Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of WKS in the United States, as alcohol prevents the body from absorbing enough thiamine."
It can be cured if treatment is given early on. He may have to stop drinking.
You really don't tell us much here. If Dad is allowed to drink in his facility, then he can drink in his facility. Many ALFs allow alcohol and in fact serve wine at "Happy Hours". If intoxication were a problem for/with your father I imagine that you would be contacted by the facility and suggestions would be made for addressing this issue.
If your question is "Can Alcoholism cause cognitive decline" then the answer is that it MAY but we are talking severe alcoholism over time. That would be alcoholic encephalopathy. You can feel free to investigate that with Google or another search engine.
You say in your answers below that your dad was "long ago" diagnosed as an alcoholic. Then just assume that he likely still is one. My brother's ex and good friend drank right through his own years in their ALF; was his dementia due to THAT or another sort of dementia? That's between him, his doctor and his POA. In fact, when alcohol was removed he made some super easy, super cheap cocktails from Listerine. The reason you see those enormous bottles of it on the end aisles in stores isn't that we all have dreadful breath.
I would make sure the administrator of the facility is aware of the situation, both the alcoholism and the alcohol being provided to him. As their resident, they deserve to be informed of both. After that, it’s on them to handle
If so, then you can't stop it. You can let the staff know of his previous diagnosis of alcoholism so they can decide if they need to change their treatment of him.
If alcohol isn't permitted, you can let the staff know, so they can deal according to their rules with the person who is bringing it to him. You should also let the staff know of his history of alcoholism in case he needs to be gradually detoxed rather than cut off all at once.
Since you don't give us much to go on I will just say that the fact that your dad is 91 and the fact that he drinks could both be reasons for his cognitive decline. And if he's been drinking for many years and is an alcoholic there is a dementia called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome that is caused from drinking. Anyone drinking alcohol in excess is at a much higher risk to develop dementia.
Alcohol abuse can cause cognitive decline. I do hope he is not driving to get the alcohol. Who is POA if anyone? It sounds like it is time to step in and remove the keys from him. Has he caused a problem in the facility with the drinking? Have they said anything? Depending on how much he is drinking to remove all alcohol could do more harm than good. And is his doctor aware of the drinking? The alcohol combined with drugs either OTC or RX can cause problems so his doctor should be informed.
Yes. Alcohol consumption can definitely cause cognitive decline and dementia if consumed to excess. If dad lives in AL, he's free to drink alcohol if he'd like. He cannot drink in Memory Care Assisted Living or in Skilled Nursing.
I bought alcohol for my parents when they lived in AL and mom had early dementia. They did not drink to excess, however, and it was nice to see mom relaxed or happy once in awhile. There are differing views about this, but once a person hits 90, chances are good you are not changing them or their habits.
Sure could, especially if he has been a long-time alcoholic he could get Wernicke-Korsakoff dementia (aka wet brain). There have been several posts recently about alcoholic parents and what to do about it. The answer is: nothing. You can't have their recovery for them. And, depending on much they drink, may need a medically supervised detox so that it doesn't kill them.
Who is buying the booze for him? Or, is he still driving? The person buying the booze needs to know they may be liable if your Dad gets drunk, falls and injures himself. No one should be buying booze for a senior with cognitive impairment since their ability to regulate how much they consume (or remember they consumed) can be faulty.
My dads POA brings him in beer. I am estranged from her, and left out of the loop when it comes to Dad. He obviously has medical attention in the nursing home. All I can do is hope for the best.
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.
He's in AL and being looked after. At 91, he's going to die of old age not alcoholism. So leave him alone and let the guy enjoy his drinks.
"Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is caused by a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that damages the brain. Thiamine is vital for brain cell function, and a lack of it can have severe and long-lasting effects. Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of WKS in the United States, as alcohol prevents the body from absorbing enough thiamine."
It can be cured if treatment is given early on. He may have to stop drinking.
If Dad is allowed to drink in his facility, then he can drink in his facility.
Many ALFs allow alcohol and in fact serve wine at "Happy Hours".
If intoxication were a problem for/with your father I imagine that you would be contacted by the facility and suggestions would be made for addressing this issue.
If your question is "Can Alcoholism cause cognitive decline" then the answer is that it MAY but we are talking severe alcoholism over time. That would be alcoholic encephalopathy. You can feel free to investigate that with Google or another search engine.
You say in your answers below that your dad was "long ago" diagnosed as an alcoholic. Then just assume that he likely still is one.
My brother's ex and good friend drank right through his own years in their ALF; was his dementia due to THAT or another sort of dementia? That's between him, his doctor and his POA. In fact, when alcohol was removed he made some super easy, super cheap cocktails from Listerine. The reason you see those enormous bottles of it on the end aisles in stores isn't that we all have dreadful breath.
If so, then you can't stop it. You can let the staff know of his previous diagnosis of alcoholism so they can decide if they need to change their treatment of him.
If alcohol isn't permitted, you can let the staff know, so they can deal according to their rules with the person who is bringing it to him. You should also let the staff know of his history of alcoholism in case he needs to be gradually detoxed rather than cut off all at once.
And if he's been drinking for many years and is an alcoholic there is a dementia called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome that is caused from drinking.
Anyone drinking alcohol in excess is at a much higher risk to develop dementia.
I do hope he is not driving to get the alcohol.
Who is POA if anyone? It sounds like it is time to step in and remove the keys from him.
Has he caused a problem in the facility with the drinking?
Have they said anything?
Depending on how much he is drinking to remove all alcohol could do more harm than good.
And is his doctor aware of the drinking?
The alcohol combined with drugs either OTC or RX can cause problems so his doctor should be informed.
I bought alcohol for my parents when they lived in AL and mom had early dementia. They did not drink to excess, however, and it was nice to see mom relaxed or happy once in awhile. There are differing views about this, but once a person hits 90, chances are good you are not changing them or their habits.
Who is buying the booze for him? Or, is he still driving? The person buying the booze needs to know they may be liable if your Dad gets drunk, falls and injures himself. No one should be buying booze for a senior with cognitive impairment since their ability to regulate how much they consume (or remember they consumed) can be faulty.
He obviously has medical attention in the nursing home. All I can do is hope for the best.