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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.
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My wife has determined to not take her meds when I offer them to her. Don't know what to do? So far she has missed her bedtime meds and this morning her thyroid pill.
It sounds like she is ready for memory care. Are you in an Independent Living apartment already or still at home? You might be able to find someplace that is a CCRC or has different levels of care. My mom’s IL also had AL and memory care, just in different adjacent buildings. This might work for you, with your wife in MC and you nearby in IL. You could still spend all day with her every day, but she would have extra caregivers and you could get uninterrupted sleep. I’m sorry, this must be so hard! I would also consult with her PCP to see what meds can just be dropped and if a hospice evaluation makes sense now that she is also barely eating.
Ask her doctor if there are equivalent medications available in liquid form, and put in a smoothie, yogurt or applesauce.
I agree with Geaton, it could be the way or time that you are offering medications. Try changing it to a time when she's more agreeable, and don't ask, just give the medication. My husband says "no" to every question. When nurses or caregivers come in to see him, they are in the habit of asking if they can do whatever it is they need to do. I tell them, if you ask, the answer is always "no". And once refused, then he will stubbornly dig in his heels. I tell them don't ask, just do it, and tell him what you're doing.
Some of the meds can't be taken with food. Some are at bedtime and others can't be crushed. Even if I could put them in food, she doesn't eat much of the time, just plays with the food, moving it around the plate and table. Sometimes she gets down right mean, like sundowning on steroids'. Walking is becoming difficult because she tries to open other apartment doors. I really need a strong dose of grace and compassion to survive this. Don't know how we would afford to go to assisted living and if they even have units were we could be together.
What meds is she taking? My Mom was able to go off her thyroid med when her numbers had stabilized for a while. Dr. recommended labs every six months.
How old is your wife? Cholesterol meds can be dropped. Long use effects the liver as do some Thyroid meds. If its Dementia meds, I would not worry about them. They stop being effective after a point. Talk to the doctor prescribing her meds.
If it’s meds to tamp down difficult dementia related behaviors such as aggression, dangerous obsessions, insomnia causing night wandering or mischief — they really are needed for her own safety and that of those around her.
Some medications can be crushed. Some are available as a liquid that is easier and sometimes safer to put into food. Some are available as a patch that is placed on the body in an area where she might not be able to reach to remove it. In some cases though if the medication is not "necessary" they can be eliminated. (I know all doctors will say the medication is necessary but is it simply extending life that is not a quality life or is it preventing pain or death? I hope that makes sense) Talk to her doctor(s) and see what can be eliminated, see what can be crushed and mixed into food. But do let her doctors know what medications she is missing, keep a log of when she misses them. When lab tests are done this information should be given so that results of any tests make sense.
Check with her pharmacy which of her pills can be crushed and put in either applesauce or pudding unbeknownst to her, and also which ones can be in liquid form. That should make it much easier for you and your wife.
Talk to the pharmacist to see if the meds come in another form, like a patch. liquid or crushable form.
What is your pill routine like? Do you ask her if she wants to take the pills or do you casually say, "Time for your vitamins" ?
Bedtime refusal could be due to sundowning.
Or, refusal could be sign of another issue she can't express, like a dental problem, new swallowing difficulty, fear/paranoia (which is a common dementia behavior).
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 agree with Geaton, it could be the way or time that you are offering medications. Try changing it to a time when she's more agreeable, and don't ask, just give the medication.
My husband says "no" to every question. When nurses or caregivers come in to see him, they are in the habit of asking if they can do whatever it is they need to do. I tell them, if you ask, the answer is always "no". And once refused, then he will stubbornly dig in his heels. I tell them don't ask, just do it, and tell him what you're doing.
Some meds can be crushed.
Best of luck with a difficult situation.
Best of luck with a difficult situation.
How old is your wife? Cholesterol meds can be dropped. Long use effects the liver as do some Thyroid meds. If its Dementia meds, I would not worry about them. They stop being effective after a point. Talk to the doctor prescribing her meds.
In some cases though if the medication is not "necessary" they can be eliminated. (I know all doctors will say the medication is necessary but is it simply extending life that is not a quality life or is it preventing pain or death? I hope that makes sense)
Talk to her doctor(s) and see what can be eliminated, see what can be crushed and mixed into food.
But do let her doctors know what medications she is missing, keep a log of when she misses them. When lab tests are done this information should be given so that results of any tests make sense.
What is your pill routine like? Do you ask her if she wants to take the pills or do you casually say, "Time for your vitamins" ?
Bedtime refusal could be due to sundowning.
Or, refusal could be sign of another issue she can't express, like a dental problem, new swallowing difficulty, fear/paranoia (which is a common dementia behavior).
Other than for thyroid, what is she taking?