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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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I see it mentioned numerous times and have no idea what ...memory care... could entail. Memory is either functional or not. Is there any source of info on what EXACTLY ...memory care.... fixes?
This is memory care. It's basically minimum security prison with eldersitting (same as babysitting only with old people not kids) and hygiene care. The residents are locked in the area of the facility they live in. Some memory care facilities have an outdoor area where the residents can access whenever they want, but it is contained. The memory care resident cannot get out of that area. They also cannot wander freely in other parts of whatever facility they live in.
Visitors must be buzzed or 'coded in' when they want to visit a resident in memory care. If they want to take that visitor out of the facility, they must sign special disclaimer paperwork assuming responsibility for that resident.
Memory care provides meals and hygiene care to the residents. They also give them their medications and there will be some kind of activity or other going on as well. It is different than being in skilled care. Skilled care in a nursing home is for people who have conditions requiring acute medical care. Dementia is not a condition requiring skilled nursing care. Though some residents have medical conditions and dementia together.
Memory care "fixes" nothing. Dementia does not get better. It gets worse. A person goes into memory care because they cannot safely live at home anymore because of dementia. Or because they don't have people who can give up their jobs, families, and lives to take care of them and their every need 24/7.
Pyrite, my Dad lived in a memory care unit of a senior living facility. The Staff is trained in the different aspects of dementia and how to guide the resident. One has to be qualified to live in Memory Care, and the admissions are able to tell if memory care or assisted living would be best.
Example, my Dad had "sundowning" where in his mind he would go back to the 1940's and think his room at the senior facility was his hotel room. He would call me at my home thinking I was my Mom, telling me his meeting ran late and that he would be staying overnight at the hotel, etc. I would play along with this so not to scare him.
Dad had a nice room in Memory Care which he called it his "college dorm room". The Staff goes around to all the rooms and wake up the residents, get them ready for breakfast in the main dining room. During the day, housekeeping would come in to clean up and change the sheets/towels. Residents would get help with a shower as most with dementia have trouble with showering/bathing.
The facility would offer entertainment or activities for the residents. Also, the front desk of the building is manned and the Staff knew who was in Memory Care and who was in Assisted Living. Memory Care residents could not leave the building without someone being with them. At night the Memory Care floor is locked (no different than us locking our doors at home) so those who "wander" are kept safe on that floor. This can vary depending on what company owes and operates the senior facility.
Actually, there is nothing pleasant about dementia or the need for Memory Care Assisted Living. Hopefully, you'll never have the misfortune to find out all about "dysfunctional" memory issues, either, or the need for a "supervised lockdown" situation or your hint cynicism will dry up and turn into sadness in a hurry.
From my exposure to it, dementia is probably the least understood and most expensively treated condition out there. Since there is NO CURE, all that can be done is management. For caregivers and those with the condition. I find that cultivating smiles of the dementia folks and ...UNDERSTANDING... that they can NOT respond to the same things that "normal" people can. Familiar humor goes the longest way with my LO. In MY opinion she is managing well. Very well. Considering. We eat out, go short distances (due to insane traffic) and get involved in TV series. She reads, gardens and generally is .....most times.... pretty happy.
This forum seems to be more directed at legal means of ...control.. of those with dementia and their assets. Also how to deal with the lack of financial plans (means) for taking care of those whom you may be required to care for.
"Memory Care" is a generic term. Facilities that offer MC are not claiming to fix memory. They offer appropriate care and protects the recipient in an environment that (hopefully) contributes to a higher quality of life for that person. They give relief to the family of that person. So, I guess you can say it fixes (or is a solution for) caregiver burnout and care needs for the recipient.
"Is there any source of info on what EXACTLY ...memory care.... fixes?"
Thanks to the interweb, you are able to do a browser search to find answers to questions like the one you posted here. Do I sense a hint of cynicism in your question? If so, why?
My dad has been in memory care for 3 years. His situation has improved since he was living on his own because he was not taking care of himself even though we hired caregivers 4 days a week for a few hours. The care he gets at his facility is amazing. They have been able to get him off insulin and his diabetes is managed with his diet. He was having severe edema in his lower legs when he lived on his own but they have, with proper care by the staff, eliminated it and keep his legs propery wrapped. His medications are dispensed appropriately and they have recently reduced a lot of what he was taking (when he lived on his own, he would not allow anyone to touch his meds and insisted on managing his meds on his own - wouldn't allow one of those computerized dispensers.) The whole experience has greatly reduced his anxiety which was one of his biggest issues. The saddest part is that he recently turned 98 and really has no quality of life anymore. He is totally confined to a wheelchair and it is preferred he not leave the facility (all care needed is brought to him) because it totally messes him up and causes a lot of confusion. Yes, they've done a great job in prolonging his life but for what? In a recent conversation with the doctor that calls on him, we are at the point where dad is going to call the shots from now on. He had a cold a few months ago and refused to take any medications. And you know what? From now on, that's fine.
My Mom is in the same situation and is on Hospice while in Assisted Living. She chose to have no treatment or be sent to the hospital. Medi-Care pays for Hospice. The plan is for them to see her daily. They offer all sorts of care for her, diapers, and pretty much everything she needs. Hope it goes well, we will see.
From my understanding, it's long-term care for persons diagnosed with some form of dementia that is far enough along that they cannot care for themselves.
It doesn't fix anything. Memory Care, as I experienced it for my mom, was further care with things that dementia takes away from people, such as mistaking toothpaste for food, bladder control, knowing where their room is, knowing what time of day it is, knowing the difference between what is made up and what is real, etc. Assisted Living helps with every day sorts of chores that get too difficult for seniors, but Memory Care is for when more help is needed because of wandering, so the facilities are locked and there is awake staff through the night. Both AL and MC made an effort to involve the residents in social activities, music, games, and exercise. Also, I found there were stricter rules about visiting. In MC a nurse was assigned to the facility and visited each resident every week because residents don't typically do well going out to appointments and the stage of dementia that got them into MC. I couldn't visit Mom as often, had to sign up for visits, but that was maybe because of covid. It's basically just more care.
It's a buzz word and selling point that has a different meaning in every region and facility. At it's core it is a locked unit for those who are physically able bodied but who are no longer capable of living on their own because of impaired decision making skills due to dementia. Staff is (supposedly) specialized and and activities are geared to appeal to those people. It is the place where those with behavioural problems are housed, not just those who may wander but those who may be combative or violent and those who resist care. Some memory care facilities will keep their residents until the end of life, but others move those with advanced dementia and to a nursing care facility.
You want your loved one to feel comfortable and safe. When a loved one can no longer stay home, it may be time for specialized memory care services that provide round-the-clock care. At a senior living community with Heartfelt CONNECTIONS – A Memory Care Program offers nationally recognized care in a comfortable, homelike setting. It uses the connection between head and heart to help loved ones and their families continue to thrive.
It doesn’t "fix" anything, and those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia will not get better. Memory care is a facility where the resident can not escape and get lost. The caregivers are specially trained to handle all the mood swings of their residents, to help or perform daily functions with the residents i.e. bathing, brushing teeth, to administer medicine, to keep them as active and engaged as the resident's level of dementia allows, plus they are there 24/7 to make sure the residents aren't sick or injured somehow. Finding a good memory care facility is difficult but worth every cent!
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.
Visitors must be buzzed or 'coded in' when they want to visit a resident in memory care. If they want to take that visitor out of the facility, they must sign special disclaimer paperwork assuming responsibility for that resident.
Memory care provides meals and hygiene care to the residents. They also give them their medications and there will be some kind of activity or other going on as well. It is different than being in skilled care. Skilled care in a nursing home is for people who have conditions requiring acute medical care. Dementia is not a condition requiring skilled nursing care. Though some residents have medical conditions and dementia together.
Memory care "fixes" nothing. Dementia does not get better. It gets worse. A person goes into memory care because they cannot safely live at home anymore because of dementia. Or because they don't have people who can give up their jobs, families, and lives to take care of them and their every need 24/7.
Example, my Dad had "sundowning" where in his mind he would go back to the 1940's and think his room at the senior facility was his hotel room. He would call me at my home thinking I was my Mom, telling me his meeting ran late and that he would be staying overnight at the hotel, etc. I would play along with this so not to scare him.
Dad had a nice room in Memory Care which he called it his "college dorm room". The Staff goes around to all the rooms and wake up the residents, get them ready for breakfast in the main dining room. During the day, housekeeping would come in to clean up and change the sheets/towels. Residents would get help with a shower as most with dementia have trouble with showering/bathing.
The facility would offer entertainment or activities for the residents. Also, the front desk of the building is manned and the Staff knew who was in Memory Care and who was in Assisted Living. Memory Care residents could not leave the building without someone being with them. At night the Memory Care floor is locked (no different than us locking our doors at home) so those who "wander" are kept safe on that floor. This can vary depending on what company owes and operates the senior facility.
Since there is NO CURE, all that can be done is management.
For caregivers and those with the condition.
I find that cultivating smiles of the dementia folks and ...UNDERSTANDING... that they can NOT respond to the same things that "normal" people can.
Familiar humor goes the longest way with my LO.
In MY opinion she is managing well. Very well.
Considering.
We eat out, go short distances (due to insane traffic) and get involved in TV series. She reads, gardens and generally is .....most times.... pretty happy.
This forum seems to be more directed at legal means of ...control.. of those with dementia and their assets. Also how to deal with the lack of financial plans (means) for taking care of those whom you may be required to care for.
"Is there any source of info on what EXACTLY ...memory care.... fixes?"
Thanks to the interweb, you are able to do a browser search to find answers to questions like the one you posted here. Do I sense a hint of cynicism in your question? If so, why?
I ...have... websearched.
From what I found, it seems "Supervised Lockdown" would be more candid.
But... "Memory Care" is oh, so much more pleasant.
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