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Are they experiencing any memory loss?
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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.
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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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She is 91-years-old and dementia. She has gotten worse the last month. She has a caretaker come to the home in the morning and my sister goes in the afternoon for a few hours.
With dementia like this, she shouldn't have her medications where she can get them.
Someone else must 'hold' them, so to speak. One of my clients had PD and tho she FELT quite independent, it's only because so many people were holding her UP. Allowing her the guise of independence while being completely unable to get through any of her daily living skills.
Pills. OMGosh. Her family tried and tried to get her to use a box that was 'mistake proof' and they didn't count on her being so unaware of time, she'd claw any pill box open if she thought she was due for her meds. (She took various combinations at various times of day and then there were food restrictions for one hour pre and post-med time).
I know the family wanted her to be able to be independent. But one day I moved her recliner so I could vacuum under it--and there were piles of various meds. I took a photo with my phone-gathered up the pills and after this, the pills were kept in a location she didn't know about. We had absolutely no way of knowing what she had and hadn't taken. I'd vacuumed 2 weeks prior, so it was a LOT of pills in a fairly short time.
Any one who is hands on caring for mom, should know where the meds are kept. I wouldn't 'leave out' anything for her to get into--yes, it's more work, but better than her swallowing a bottle of tylenol and going into liver failure. Or forgetting one of her meds that's crucial.
Quite honestly, and I know you didn't mention this: sounds like she needs 24/7 care at this point.
Your Mom cannot live alone. She needs to be placed in Memory Care if she has the money it in Long-term care with Medicaid if she doesn't. Or she pays for 24/7 care.
Yes, she should have no access to any type of medication. For my Mom my nephew was living with her. Her bottles and pill planner were put up on a high shelf in her kitchen cabinet. I never refilled the planner in her presence. My nephew gave her pills when needed. An aide should not be dispensing meds unless certified.
Betty, It's one of the most common and saddest thing. I wish I had an answer other than lock and key for safety, but I don't.
When my brother entered ALF he was so "with it" with his dx of probably early Lewy's that I would challenge ANYONE to know anything was wrong. EXCEPT for, I was aware of the approaching paranoia, the feeling people were watching when he went to walks, signed out, and were casing his room. And he would hide the cash he WASN'T supposed to have in various places, then accuse people of stealing it even after closet was locked with only himself and admin with a key. Would later find where he had put it. Towels instead of the usual dictionary. And there were accusations of whomever he suspected, luckily kept only to me, and amounted to those he didn't like as much as others for some reason.
It was so distressing, for him, for me, and you can imagine for caregivers. I wish I had an answer other than this is very common. And so sad. I wish you luck.
I think you already know what needs to be done at this point. And yes, I'm talking about placing your mother in a memory care facility where a nurse will dispense her medications at the appropriate time. She is no longer safe to be living at home unless she can afford to hire 24/7 care, but it's my understanding that that is actually more expensive than having her placed. I'm sure it will be hard for all involved, but it's now come down to doing what is best for your mother and her safety.
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.
Someone else must 'hold' them, so to speak. One of my clients had PD and tho she FELT quite independent, it's only because so many people were holding her UP. Allowing her the guise of independence while being completely unable to get through any of her daily living skills.
Pills. OMGosh. Her family tried and tried to get her to use a box that was 'mistake proof' and they didn't count on her being so unaware of time, she'd claw any pill box open if she thought she was due for her meds. (She took various combinations at various times of day and then there were food restrictions for one hour pre and post-med time).
I know the family wanted her to be able to be independent. But one day I moved her recliner so I could vacuum under it--and there were piles of various meds. I took a photo with my phone-gathered up the pills and after this, the pills were kept in a location she didn't know about. We had absolutely no way of knowing what she had and hadn't taken. I'd vacuumed 2 weeks prior, so it was a LOT of pills in a fairly short time.
Any one who is hands on caring for mom, should know where the meds are kept. I wouldn't 'leave out' anything for her to get into--yes, it's more work, but better than her swallowing a bottle of tylenol and going into liver failure. Or forgetting one of her meds that's crucial.
Quite honestly, and I know you didn't mention this: sounds like she needs 24/7 care at this point.
Yes, she should have no access to any type of medication. For my Mom my nephew was living with her. Her bottles and pill planner were put up on a high shelf in her kitchen cabinet. I never refilled the planner in her presence. My nephew gave her pills when needed. An aide should not be dispensing meds unless certified.
When my brother entered ALF he was so "with it" with his dx of probably early Lewy's that I would challenge ANYONE to know anything was wrong. EXCEPT for, I was aware of the approaching paranoia, the feeling people were watching when he went to walks, signed out, and were casing his room. And he would hide the cash he WASN'T supposed to have in various places, then accuse people of stealing it even after closet was locked with only himself and admin with a key. Would later find where he had put it. Towels instead of the usual dictionary. And there were accusations of whomever he suspected, luckily kept only to me, and amounted to those he didn't like as much as others for some reason.
It was so distressing, for him, for me, and you can imagine for caregivers. I wish I had an answer other than this is very common. And so sad. I wish you luck.
She is no longer safe to be living at home unless she can afford to hire 24/7 care, but it's my understanding that that is actually more expensive than having her placed.
I'm sure it will be hard for all involved, but it's now come down to doing what is best for your mother and her safety.