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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.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
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.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
Here is an article I found from Anthem Memory Care's website on the subject:
What is Shadowing? Can You Minimize It?
Do you have a mom or dad with dementia who feels the need to keep you in their line of sight at all times? Do they follow you around the house?
This is a common phenomenon referred to as “shadowing”.
Angela Lunde, a Mayo Clinic expert on Alzheimer’s Disease, describes shadowing as “when the person with dementia attempts to keep his or her caregiver in their sight at all times, following them like a small child would his or her parent. Shadowing can have the Alzheimer’s caregiver feeling smothered and their personal space feeling violated.”
It is the last part of Ms. Lunde’s description that often contributes to caregiver anxiety, depression and burn-out.
How to tackle that anxiety? It helps to gain a better understanding as to why your loved one is shadowing you. The underlying cause of shadowing is fear. Many individuals struggling with dementia live in a constant state of fear --- fear of forgetting, fear of getting lost, fear of strangers and basically fear of anything unfamiliar to them. Imagine this out-of-proportion fear engulfing your mom or dad and you can begin to understand why they cling to you. You are their “safe haven” in a very scary world they feel they have no control over.
What to do? Fortunately, along with our better understanding of dementia, solutions to behavior such as shadowing are emerging. Here are five things you can do to create an environment that minimizes the need for shadowing:
Devise your own reassuring “mantra”. Create a sequence of phrases that have a calming effect on your loved one. You might try, “I’m glad you’re here. You are safe here. Everything is okay.” By repeating this phrase slowly in a gentle, calm voice you are helping them stay connected to that safe haven. And you might be surprised at how much this “mantra” helps you stay calm as well!
Give your loved one a task to do. Have them fold towels or sort silverware or perform any easy but useful task. It will keep their attention focused on the task, not on you.
Play a video of a familiar movie or family video. Make sure it is one they have seen and enjoyed many times before. Familiar images and sounds will have a calming effect on them.
Create your own audio recording. This can be your own voice telling a familiar story, or reading sections of a book. Or, it could be a short sequence of their favorite songs. Be sure to place the recorder close by so that they don’t have to strain to hear it.
Provide a clock with a timer. If you need to leave the room for more than a couple minutes, give your loved one a egg timer or clock with a timer so that they can focus on the time passing, a reassurance that you will soon return. Specially designed clocks, such as Time-Timers, make it easy to see how much time is left. Just make sure you put enough time on the timer to allow you to accomplish your task!
Above all, make sure you repeat your calming mantra before you leave the room. Set your timer and give them an activity to keep them focused while you are gone. If you do this consistently you and your loved one will be rewarded by a calmer, more tranquil environment and an easier, more pleasant co-existence with one another.
While you may be able to minimize the shadowing your mother is displaying, it may not stop altogether. Another thing to consider for her is a day program. Socialization opportunities for your mom-as well as structure and engagement–plus a break for you equals a winning combination. Even if it’s only one half day a week.
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.
What is Shadowing? Can You Minimize It?
Do you have a mom or dad with dementia who feels the need to keep you in their line of sight at all times? Do they follow you around the house?
This is a common phenomenon referred to as “shadowing”.
Angela Lunde, a Mayo Clinic expert on Alzheimer’s Disease, describes shadowing as “when the person with dementia attempts to keep his or her caregiver in their sight at all times, following them like a small child would his or her parent. Shadowing can have the Alzheimer’s caregiver feeling smothered and their personal space feeling violated.”
It is the last part of Ms. Lunde’s description that often contributes to caregiver anxiety, depression and burn-out.
How to tackle that anxiety? It helps to gain a better understanding as to why your loved one is shadowing you. The underlying cause of shadowing is fear. Many individuals struggling with dementia live in a constant state of fear --- fear of forgetting, fear of getting lost, fear of strangers and basically fear of anything unfamiliar to them. Imagine this out-of-proportion fear engulfing your mom or dad and you can begin to understand why they cling to you. You are their “safe haven” in a very scary world they feel they have no control over.
What to do? Fortunately, along with our better understanding of dementia, solutions to behavior such as shadowing are emerging. Here are five things you can do to create an environment that minimizes the need for shadowing:
Devise your own reassuring “mantra”. Create a sequence of phrases that have a calming effect on your loved one. You might try, “I’m glad you’re here. You are safe here. Everything is okay.” By repeating this phrase slowly in a gentle, calm voice you are helping them stay connected to that safe haven. And you might be surprised at how much this “mantra” helps you stay calm as well!
Give your loved one a task to do. Have them fold towels or sort silverware or perform any easy but useful task. It will keep their attention focused on the task, not on you.
Play a video of a familiar movie or family video. Make sure it is one they have seen and enjoyed many times before. Familiar images and sounds will have a calming effect on them.
Create your own audio recording. This can be your own voice telling a familiar story, or reading sections of a book. Or, it could be a short sequence of their favorite songs. Be sure to place the recorder close by so that they don’t have to strain to hear it.
Provide a clock with a timer. If you need to leave the room for more than a couple minutes, give your loved one a egg timer or clock with a timer so that they can focus on the time passing, a reassurance that you will soon return. Specially designed clocks, such as Time-Timers, make it easy to see how much time is left. Just make sure you put enough time on the timer to allow you to accomplish your task!
Above all, make sure you repeat your calming mantra before you leave the room. Set your timer and give them an activity to keep them focused while you are gone. If you do this consistently you and your loved one will be rewarded by a calmer, more tranquil environment and an easier, more pleasant co-existence with one another.
***************************************************************
While you may be able to minimize the shadowing your mother is displaying, it may not stop altogether. Another thing to consider for her is a day program. Socialization opportunities for your mom-as well as structure and engagement–plus a break for you equals a winning combination. Even if it’s only one half day a week.
Best of luck!