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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?
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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.
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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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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:
Keep a close eye on the person for a couple of days. Watch them as they go about their routine, making meals, using the bathroom, etc. If you have to jump up and tend to the person as they go about their day they probably can't be left alone.
Is the person leaving the faucet on or, heaven forbid, the stove? Do they wander around the house going through things? Do you have moments when you think, "Whew! I'm glad I was here to help!"?
And finally, if you're thinking that someone may not be able to stay at home alone anymore you're most likely right.
Clearly if the person starts to wander but there are many other signs. What if he/she leaves the stove on? Can the person do the activities of daily living? Is there a danger to them? Would they admit a stranger to the home? Dementia progresses in different ways. In general, I believe most of us left our family members a bit too long after they should have had company. (Me included) We don't want to admit the level of help needed. Read the postings by family members with dementia. Failure to take meds, not eating properly and rotting food in the house, failure to pay bills, dirty laundry etc. When we emptied a loved one's apt for a move to assisted living it was horrifying. Food that had expired 6 years earlier! Torn urine stained clothes piled up on the floor of the closet, bath mats that were too disgusting to even touch etc etc. It is a miracle that more falls didn't take place with the piles of stuff in the walkway to the bathroom. (Yes, in my visits I had constantly done what I could AND asked the actual family members to do the same, but they were too busy having a nice visit and never looking beyond their noses. )
Good points above about how you have to consider if they should be alone if they aren't able to prepare meals, can't manage meds, neglect their hygiene, wander, etc. However, I would also caution families who have a LO who has delusions. If the LO believes strongly in a delusion, they may act out in ways they normally would not act out and end up hurting themselves or others. We had a family friend, who's family thought he was okay to live alone being checked on once a day, but, he was under a delusion that young children played in his house. The delusion stayed with him and when the children's play became too loud and annoyed him, he ran out into the street, fell and broke his hip. He never recovered.
I'd factor in that with the dementia comes a lot of fear and confusion. IMO, the person needs a lot of reassurance and support, that is not provided when they are left alone. I think that aspect of the illness is often ignored.
The person has fallen, continues to be a fall risk. Declines due to being in bed all day. Loses weight becomes frail because not able to regularly get own meals. Cannot safely get out in case of fire, flood, or natural disaster. Is known to never ask for help. If 911 has been to the home 3 times or more recently, or if there have been several hospitalizations. And, 'if you have to ask....'
Watch for falls, confusion as to what happened in their day.
Is the person able to tell you what time of day it is? Can they tell you where they are? Do they seem overly confused and lost as to what they are supposed to be doing at any given time of the day? Are they able to take their own medications? Can they use a microwave and stove? Even if they never use the stove, is there a way to make it so they definitely can't? Do they remember to eat? Can they safely dress and change themselves in case of an accident? How is their hygiene and health otherwise? Can they do their own laundry and keep up the house? Are they having trouble with vaccums, mopping, sweeping, etc so much so it's a risk to their health? Are they ever trying to leave their house and do things unsafe?
I think it's a personal decision at times as to when they cannot be safe by themselves. We had a caregiver coming in and helping with housework first and to ensure she took pills. Then she started having falls so when they had someone come in to ensure she was ok during the day and give her some companionship while she was mostly awake leaving her alone in the afternoon when she would nap. Then I bumped to a part time job to be there in the afternoons having someone come in the mornings to help with her housework, pill taking, food making and caring for her. So it's been a gradual change. Now I don't work, caring for her is truly a 24/7 job. If you are asking the answers though and are really concerned trust in your own judgement.
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.
Is the person leaving the faucet on or, heaven forbid, the stove? Do they wander around the house going through things? Do you have moments when you think, "Whew! I'm glad I was here to help!"?
And finally, if you're thinking that someone may not be able to stay at home alone anymore you're most likely right.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/signs-your-parent-needs-help-143228.htm
I'd factor in that with the dementia comes a lot of fear and confusion. IMO, the person needs a lot of reassurance and support, that is not provided when they are left alone. I think that aspect of the illness is often ignored.
Declines due to being in bed all day.
Loses weight becomes frail because not able to regularly get own meals.
Cannot safely get out in case of fire, flood, or natural disaster.
Is known to never ask for help.
If 911 has been to the home 3 times or more recently, or if there have been several hospitalizations.
And, 'if you have to ask....'
Is the person able to tell you what time of day it is?
Can they tell you where they are?
Do they seem overly confused and lost as to what they are supposed to be doing at any given time of the day?
Are they able to take their own medications?
Can they use a microwave and stove? Even if they never use the stove, is there a way to make it so they definitely can't?
Do they remember to eat?
Can they safely dress and change themselves in case of an accident?
How is their hygiene and health otherwise?
Can they do their own laundry and keep up the house?
Are they having trouble with vaccums, mopping, sweeping, etc so much so it's a risk to their health?
Are they ever trying to leave their house and do things unsafe?
I think it's a personal decision at times as to when they cannot be safe by themselves. We had a caregiver coming in and helping with housework first and to ensure she took pills. Then she started having falls so when they had someone come in to ensure she was ok during the day and give her some companionship while she was mostly awake leaving her alone in the afternoon when she would nap. Then I bumped to a part time job to be there in the afternoons having someone come in the mornings to help with her housework, pill taking, food making and caring for her. So it's been a gradual change. Now I don't work, caring for her is truly a 24/7 job. If you are asking the answers though and are really concerned trust in your own judgement.