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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
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My husband is finding it difficult to walk, stumbling forward at each step. He has dementia 5 years and non treatable bowel cancer 3 years. Would it make him weaker or would it give us both more freedom to go for walks, shopping, outings etc?
Ask yourself this... Would he be safer using a wheelchair? Would I be safer with him using a wheelchair? If the answer to the either one is yes then there is no question.
He WILL get weaker. With or without a wheelchair. He will get weaker if he falls and breaks a hip. He is struggling with 2 life limiting conditions. I think a wheelchair will make his and your life a bit easier. You/he will still have the option to use a walker. So if he is resistant to the idea of a wheelchair compromise and say we will "try" the wheelchair when we go for long walks or out to the store. He can use the walker in the house.
My mom has been losing her mobility over the past 2 years. She has been using a walker in the house and walker/wheelchair on outings so that we can push her if she gets tired (which is happening more and more).
Yesterday we invested in a power wheelchair. She loves it! Mom was cruising around a local store within the hour. We're going to encourage her to use the walker as much as possible within the house so that she doesn't further decondition. But the power wheelchair (very light for lifting in the car) should give her greater independence while maintaining safety.
I think most of these mobility journeys require a hybrid approach depending on the stage of dementia.
Transport chairs are excellent. Especially for short distances such as from the car to the doctors office. However, longer distances shopping, taking a walk, or any other trips they can be not as easy to push. The wheelchair we used for my mother could be both a transport chair and full wheelchair. They can be a little more expensive but in the long run, I think it saved me money. I could use the transport chair when it was the best option then I could put the back wheels on and use it as a full wheelchair for other situations. We probably would’ve ended up buying two chairs instead of one.
Putting my mom into a wheelchair was a difficult decision and I was warned that she would get weaker faster. However, safety for both mom and myself, as well as quality of life, led me to the wheelchair.
Remember to take care of yourself or you won’t be able to take care of your husband.
First I would invest in a transport chair instead of a wheelchair as they are much lighter in weight and easier to transport(excuse the pun). Then I will tell you what my husbands neurologist told me many years ago and that was to let my now late husband keep walking when able so he wouldn't lose his ability to. I only used his transport chair when I knew that he was weak or tired, or if we were going someplace that required a bit more walking than I knew he could handle. And the neurologist was right, because when my husband almost died of aspiration pneumonia in 2018, and was hospitalized for almost a month, he ended up coming home completely bedridden and unable to walk at all and under hospice care. So if you want to go on walks with your husband or go shopping, then perhaps it best to take along the transport chair, but otherwise I would let him walk with his cane or walker at home and for shorter stints.
Do what makes life better for both of you, get the wheelchair. I think you need to face the reality that losing his strength is inevitable and opting for a wheelchair is not going to speed that up, it's just part of that reality. An inexpensive transfer chair may be sufficient for now but if the time comes that he is spending most of his day in it I encourage you to work with an occupational therapist to have him fitted for a customized wheelchair with all the bells and whistles - tilt in space, lateral supports, pressure relieving cushion (like ROHO) and head rests - they are expensive but there usually are supports to cover much of that cost.
Start with a walker. Only use a wheelchair for treks that you know are too far for him to walk unassisted
Once you sit down a rely on wheelchair to get around, he will very quickly be unable to walk at all. As legs get weaker, they won't be able to help you to stand, to move from one seat to another. Keep moving.
Even the recliners that do sit to stand lifting are problematic. Stop using leg muscles and arms to stand and push up, you lose the ability.
Get Dr to order home health care and physical therapy/ occupational therapy. One does waist down and one waist up.
Thank you for your common sense views. Life is very difficult without any other help. It’s me that needs my husband in a wheelchair, so we can go back to walks along our nearby seafront. I will take the advice to get a transport chair. It sounds lighter to lift in and out of car. Thank you again
Yes to both. My mom has dementia and had problems with balance before her dementia. After her last fall while she was already in a residential rehab, she fractured ger pelvis in three places. She didn't need surgery, but I have her use the wheelchair even in the house. We also got a stair lift to make going up and down easier. She still uses a walker for walking 5 feet to get to the powder room and turn around to use the toilet, as well as her bathroom to transfer to the toilet or the sliding shower chair. It isn't an easy decision and I have to vigalent because she forgets that she is a fall risk, has poor balance, and needs help to stand or go anywhere.
Getting a prescription from your doctor for an OT or PT consult should be your first step. You can ask the assessor about types of wheelchairs. You can also find free chairs through your social services of department of aging community closet. They should have the info about where donated medical equipment is available
My MIL used a walker to go to the shops, which was quite a way through a housing area. When she tired, she sat down on the seat. People often came out to ask if she was OK, and struck up a conversation. She ended up with the trip being quite a social event.
She was highly resistant to getting the walker, and only agreed to hire one short-term when she came out of hospital after a minor op. After three months (minimum hire), she didn’t want to let it go. The hire company was delighted to sell it to her cheap, because it was an old model that wasn’t height-adjustable and was shorter than most people. MIL was just the right height, so she kept the one she loved.
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.
Would he be safer using a wheelchair?
Would I be safer with him using a wheelchair?
If the answer to the either one is yes then there is no question.
He WILL get weaker. With or without a wheelchair.
He will get weaker if he falls and breaks a hip.
He is struggling with 2 life limiting conditions. I think a wheelchair will make his and your life a bit easier.
You/he will still have the option to use a walker. So if he is resistant to the idea of a wheelchair compromise and say we will "try" the wheelchair when we go for long walks or out to the store. He can use the walker in the house.
My mom has been losing her mobility over the past 2 years. She has been using a walker in the house and walker/wheelchair on outings so that we can push her if she gets tired (which is happening more and more).
Yesterday we invested in a power wheelchair. She loves it! Mom was cruising around a local store within the hour. We're going to encourage her to use the walker as much as possible within the house so that she doesn't further decondition. But the power wheelchair (very light for lifting in the car) should give her greater independence while maintaining safety.
I think most of these mobility journeys require a hybrid approach depending on the stage of dementia.
Good luck with finding a solution(s).
Putting my mom into a wheelchair was a difficult decision and I was warned that she would get weaker faster. However, safety for both mom and myself, as well as quality of life, led me to the wheelchair.
Remember to take care of yourself or you won’t be able to take care of your husband.
Then I will tell you what my husbands neurologist told me many years ago and that was to let my now late husband keep walking when able so he wouldn't lose his ability to.
I only used his transport chair when I knew that he was weak or tired, or if we were going someplace that required a bit more walking than I knew he could handle.
And the neurologist was right, because when my husband almost died of aspiration pneumonia in 2018, and was hospitalized for almost a month, he ended up coming home completely bedridden and unable to walk at all and under hospice care.
So if you want to go on walks with your husband or go shopping, then perhaps it best to take along the transport chair, but otherwise I would let him walk with his cane or walker at home and for shorter stints.
An inexpensive transfer chair may be sufficient for now but if the time comes that he is spending most of his day in it I encourage you to work with an occupational therapist to have him fitted for a customized wheelchair with all the bells and whistles - tilt in space, lateral supports, pressure relieving cushion (like ROHO) and head rests - they are expensive but there usually are supports to cover much of that cost.
Once you sit down a rely on wheelchair to get around, he will very quickly be unable to walk at all. As legs get weaker, they won't be able to help you to stand, to move from one seat to another.
Keep moving.
Even the recliners that do sit to stand lifting are problematic. Stop using leg muscles and arms to stand and push up, you lose the ability.
Get Dr to order home health care and physical therapy/ occupational therapy. One does waist down and one waist up.
Weather or not it makes him weaker faster, won't matter if he has a sever fall, breaks a hip or hits his head.
So sorry about your husband's declining health
Transport model is lighter to put in/out car BUT smaller wheels mean harder to push.
Full size wheel model has heavier frame BUT much easier to push.
(Some have pop-off wheels that make it a little easier to fit in the car).
I am a slight female. I cannot lift any of the frames into my car.
You can also find free chairs through your social services of department of aging community closet. They should have the info about where donated medical equipment is available
She was highly resistant to getting the walker, and only agreed to hire one short-term when she came out of hospital after a minor op. After three months (minimum hire), she didn’t want to let it go. The hire company was delighted to sell it to her cheap, because it was an old model that wasn’t height-adjustable and was shorter than most people. MIL was just the right height, so she kept the one she loved.
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