Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
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:
For nasal congestion, Flonase works well for 12 hours. Also, simple saline spray can also help, but IMO not as fast or as long. A long, hot shower will decongest really well, or put your LO's head over the sick with a towel over their head and run the hot water for steam, right before they go to bed. Then if possible, have them sleep on a low wedge to elevate their head and chest.
For chest congestion, Mucinex works very well.
For headaches, body aches and fever, Tylenol. FYI a fever in someone very elderly should be monitored closely, especially if there is coughing (pneumonia, rsv, bronchitis) or sinus headache (sinus infection).
Decide which symptom is most bothersome to your elder and then try to use the minimum therapy so they can be as comfortable as possible.
Basically any cold medicine does nothing but address symptoms. The cold has simply to run its course. What symptoms are the most distressing for the person currently suffering?
Try a vaporizer? They still sell them and the new ones are safer--cooler steam. Could also try Vicks. I like warm herbal tea with honey (lemon-ginger) when I have a cold.
A lot has been pulled off the shelf because they do not work. One that does work is nasal spray although they cause rebound congestion. With colds, I use a netty pot and once the nasal spray needs weaning, I use it for a couple more days in one nare only
Using Afrin nasal spray for more than 2 days can create rebound swelling of the membranes (been there, done that and it gives this warning on the packaging -- at least it did years ago).
Netty pots should only be used when well, since using if congested can push mucus into the ears and cause problems like infection.
You don’t mention what cold medicines you have used so far. Nor do you say if she has any cognitive issues. At 96 she probably does, however slight. Certain cold meds contain a drug called diphenhydramine. It belongs to a class of drugs called anticholergenics. Diphenhydramine is a common OTC antihistamine that is used to treat among other symptoms, colds. It is popular active ingredient for many OTC drugs. It can have certain side effects, especially in the elderly and those with cognitive impairment. It can exacerbate early dementia symptoms and cause confusion for the elderly.
Examples of OTCs with this drug are Benadryl, Advil PM ( or any OTC with PM), ZZZQuil (or any OTC sleep aid, excluding melatonin). It is best to ask her doctor for recommendations.
First you should be asking the doctor or the pharmacist (where the prescriptions are normally filled as they will have access to all the medications that are prescribed) You do not mention what has been tried and or what "cold" symptoms they are having. If the person is on medication for high blood pressure there are "cold medications" that are specific for people with high blood pressure. If the person has any form of dementia any medication that contains a "sleep aid" will make a foggy brain even foggier. Even without dementia any "sleep aid" medication will leave a persona bit "fuzzy" in the brain until the medication wears off. In most cases riding out a cold may be the best option. For a sore throat sometimes Tea and a bit of Honey helps. Hot soup, tea will help clear the nose a bit. (theory being that the steam does help kill off some of the bacteria/virus that may be in the nose.) Fever is another thing. Check with the doctor. Same with any vomiting or diarrhea. Increasing any fluids lost Sometimes fluids like Pedialyte, Gatorade and other Sports drinks might help.
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.
For chest congestion, Mucinex works very well.
For headaches, body aches and fever, Tylenol. FYI a fever in someone very elderly should be monitored closely, especially if there is coughing (pneumonia, rsv, bronchitis) or sinus headache (sinus infection).
Decide which symptom is most bothersome to your elder and then try to use the minimum therapy so they can be as comfortable as possible.
I use Flonase too. Steam definitely helps out.
I happen to like spicy food. Some people don’t like it or it upsets their stomach. I find spicy food helps with congestion too.
Hot tea and soup are always soothing.
Netty pots should only be used when well, since using if congested can push mucus into the ears and cause problems like infection.
Examples of OTCs with this drug are Benadryl, Advil PM ( or any OTC with PM), ZZZQuil (or any OTC sleep aid, excluding melatonin). It is best to ask her doctor for recommendations.
You do not mention what has been tried and or what "cold" symptoms they are having.
If the person is on medication for high blood pressure there are "cold medications" that are specific for people with high blood pressure.
If the person has any form of dementia any medication that contains a "sleep aid" will make a foggy brain even foggier.
Even without dementia any "sleep aid" medication will leave a persona bit "fuzzy" in the brain until the medication wears off.
In most cases riding out a cold may be the best option.
For a sore throat sometimes Tea and a bit of Honey helps.
Hot soup, tea will help clear the nose a bit. (theory being that the steam does help kill off some of the bacteria/virus that may be in the nose.)
Fever is another thing. Check with the doctor. Same with any vomiting or diarrhea.
Increasing any fluids lost
Sometimes fluids like Pedialyte, Gatorade and other Sports drinks might help.
See All Answers