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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?
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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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My first thought is to check her meds. I actually put a spread sheet together of all my mother's meds - what she was taking, dosage, what time of day she was taking them, and what the side effects were of each drug. Not surprisingly, 4 of the 9 medications she was taking could cause 'confusion', and 7 of the medications could cause 'dizziness', among other effects. Looking at the spreadsheet, I was able to put together a plan when to take each med so as not to overload with all the effects at once (i.e., the meds that would cause the confusion, I had her take only 1 of them in the morning, 1 in the late afternoon and then 2 in the evening). And then some of the meds were being given for the same symptoms. After I figured out everything, I reviewed everything with her doctor (who, 'should' have known these things, but because they are so short staffed and timed, don't have the time to do such indepth research). We were able to eliminate duplications so that mother only needed to take 5 of the 9 meds.
So that would be my first thought. Second thought is to have her professionally evaluated to determine if there is cognitive issues and what kind and how bad.
If all her needs are being met in the facility where she is, there is no need to move her. If she is losing weight, unclean, or ill... you might consider moving her to another facility - skilled nursing or memory care. Start researching facilities and let them know your concerns. They can let you how they would handle the problems you mention.
RLWG54: Yes, perhaps your mother DOES require residence in a memory care facility depending on her level of cognitive decline, which sounds significant.
Talk to her primary care doctor about cognitive testing. They have short tests like SLUMS that when scored one can tell if normal age appreciate forgetfulness or mild to severe memory loss.
a work up by a neurologist is helpful too.
if she is not wandering or unsafe things have happened in the home … that’s when a more supervised secure unit like memory care is needed.
you could as for a in-home referral for Occupational therapy and physical therapy to come out and assess needs in her home or apt. Eg… remove rugs….OT can do testing to and make recommendations on level of supervision needed.
one always looks for the least restrictive environment to ensure safety at the level of her memory loss. Maybe AL works best. Just get some more eyes on it with the testing
This is a question for her PCP and the facility staff to help answer by providing her with a current " level of care needs" assessment . Ask her PCP for this, share your observations of her and, express your concerns which probably center around her safety, quality of life and, care provided. Obviously someone in AL receives less staff intervention care than someone in " memory care" or other " skilled care" .
Memory care is only needed when the resident is a flight risk, imo.
Just because she can't remember doesn't mean she should be locked up and usually drugged into compliance.
My dad had a house mate that couldn't remember from one end of a greeting to the other but, he was a cheerful, friendly man that didn't cause any problems, so he didn't need locked doors. Is this your mom?
If she is safe and well-taken care of and can function where she is from day to day, she does not need Meory Care. "Memory Care" means a higher level of care needs than just "memory." Does she "remember" to wash and brush her teeth and eat and use the bathroom properly? If so, she probably does not need Memory Care.
I would talk to the administration where she is. Honestly if they thought that she needed Memory Care they would probably have asked for a meeting. the biggest concern is...will mom wander? If so then she needs to be in a secure area. (and you never know if and when the wandering might begin)
Have you spoken with the administration at the ALF. I would do this intensively to get a good idea of how the staff feels she is doing safety wise, and care needs wise. They will be excellent judges of this as they are working with her every day.
You can ask the admins to evaluate whether she is getting the right level of care. If her memory is so bad that she's not getting to meals, taking meds, hygiene, doing laundry, or taking advantage of any programs, events, classes, etc. then maybe yes to MC. More info from you would be helpful.
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.
So that would be my first thought. Second thought is to have her professionally evaluated to determine if there is cognitive issues and what kind and how bad.
a work up by a neurologist is helpful too.
if she is not wandering or unsafe things have happened in the home … that’s when a more supervised secure unit like memory care is needed.
you could as for a in-home referral for Occupational therapy and physical therapy to come out and assess needs in her home or apt. Eg… remove rugs….OT can do testing to and make recommendations on level of supervision needed.
one always looks for the least restrictive environment to ensure safety at the level of her memory loss. Maybe AL works best. Just get some more eyes on it with the testing
Just because she can't remember doesn't mean she should be locked up and usually drugged into compliance.
My dad had a house mate that couldn't remember from one end of a greeting to the other but, he was a cheerful, friendly man that didn't cause any problems, so he didn't need locked doors. Is this your mom?
Honestly if they thought that she needed Memory Care they would probably have asked for a meeting.
the biggest concern is...will mom wander? If so then she needs to be in a secure area. (and you never know if and when the wandering might begin)