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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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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You may be at a crossroads where her walking mobility is waning and her risk for falls will be greater. My mother went from one day using her rollator to the next unable to get up out of a chair. That set the stage for her becoming bedridden. My family saw it coming as we watched her struggle more and more to get up. But, she was determined and kept getting it done until she was 94. We had to accept her new limitations and adapt. Even if physical therapy had restored her ability to use her rollator her change in strength would have made her a huge fall risk.
What is worse - being somewhat bedridden or trying to walk in a weakened state and breaking a hip? I say “somewhat” because she still exercises her arms and legs and did a month of PT in bed to keep her abdominal muscles strong enough to sit up a little when pillows or bed linens are being adjusted. She assists by rolling and grabbing the bed rails during changes. She sings songs in bed and makes her own choreography which I sometimes do with her. Most of all - she does NOT spend the whole day in bed. We get her up in a upholstered chair with armrests almost every day for a few hours. We use a Hoyer lift with a cloth sling. She was terrified of it at first but now looks forward to it. I sometimes use the Hoyer to place her in a full size wheelchair so we can go outside on nice days and walk up and down the driveway and front walk outside. We have a ramp to get her out of the house to the garage and out the garage door. A yoga teaching friend of mine works with her for free inside the house in the chair and in bed. She doesn’t do any “downward dogs” but she enjoys doing what she can. We pass a ball back and forth and do anything else we can think of to keep her moving. We will keep doing these things until she can’t or doesn’t want to. At that point she will truly be “bedridden” and probably not long for this world. I do have to do a lot of caretaking because she cannot get to the bathroom and has to be changed in bed. That is another subject, but even that can be made into a routine that gets easier once you find the things you need to make it so. I have help coming in during the week for a few hours every day. I take most weekends. No sisters - so it is me or a nursing home. Home care is our choice for now.
There is one mobility skill that my mother cannot do that is worth preserving if you can. That is the ability to stand and pivot to a wheelchair and chair. Even if she can’t walk, the ability to stand and pivot with assistance is valuable. However, it does present a transfer risk for falling if improperly done. Have a PT specialist train you both before doing. Best of luck.
I love that your mother sings songs and makes up choreography for her exercises! She sounds delightful. Your accommodations to her changing abilities are spot on. Good advice, too, about not forcing more mobility than is safe for the person with weakness and instability. This should always be considered when choosing devices to assist mobility.
My Mom is in an older home, so doorways are small. She uses a transport wheelchair. I bought her a comfortable cushion and arm rest covers from Amazon. When someone is there, we push her. When she's alone, she uses her feet to scoot herself around quite effectively. Best wishes.
My bother bought a transport wheel chair for Dad. A couple thoughts from him, it is designed to be pushed, not for the seated person to propel themselves. It is not comfortable on cracked or lumpy sidewalks.
If your Mum is weak she may not have any strength to propel herself.
My brother is looking at getting Dad a Rollator, because of the seat. Dad is using a walker now, but his legs are very weak and he runs out of energy quickly a seat is needed.
Tothill, my wife has a Rollator. The wheels make it easy to move around and the seat comes in handy. In fact I sit on it at my wife’s doctor appointments while she sits in their chair. :>)
We bought a KARMA wheelchair for my 98 yo Mom and weighs 95 pounds. It’s small scale, comfortable, easy to push with shock absorbing wheels, folds up easily and fits into a car or taxi. We have the ERGO-lite series.
If hallways are narrow that is a problem but for doorways you can have the hinges replaced with ones that will allow full swing opening. They are called Offset hinges or Swing Clear hinges. Most Big Box Hardware Stores will have them . If she needs a wheelchair have her doctor order one. The smaller transport chairs are easier to get around they are lighter to pick up as well. The question is though how weak is she getting will she be able to push herself in a wheelchair?
Got my mom a rollator till her legs got weaker. The seat w/ small compartment under neath is just right. However, she used to bend over as she walked, rather than stand upright to walk. (Teepa Snow says they're watching their feet) & it became hard on her wrists & back. Recently transitioned my mom to a transport chair, lighter than WC & easy to fold in the trunk.
We had a child size wheelchair at work that was donated. The person who borrowed it had a mother who only weighted 100 lbs and she was short. Was perfect for her.
Regular wheelchairs are 18in wide. Go to a Durable equipment store. They can help you pick the right one.
Exercise her every single day. I took my mom to the park everyday same time and same place for 5 years and she was only bedridden for a few months before she died. I had to end up getting an upright speciality walker but she loved it. Fight to keep her mobility because once you lose that her care will be much more difficult. Imagine trying to move her bowels while bedridden including enemas. That is what bedridden is all about.
Keep her moving! Wheelchairs are horrible. They slide in them and lean.
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.
What is worse - being somewhat bedridden or trying to walk in a weakened state and breaking a hip? I say “somewhat” because she still exercises her arms and legs and did a month of PT in bed to keep her abdominal muscles strong enough to sit up a little when pillows or bed linens are being adjusted. She assists by rolling and grabbing the bed rails during changes. She sings songs in bed and makes her own choreography which I sometimes do with her. Most of all - she does NOT spend the whole day in bed. We get her up in a upholstered chair with armrests almost every day for a few hours. We use a Hoyer lift with a cloth sling. She was terrified of it at first but now looks forward to it. I sometimes use the Hoyer to place her in a full size wheelchair so we can go outside on nice days and walk up and down the driveway and front walk outside. We have a ramp to get her out of the house to the garage and out the garage door. A yoga teaching friend of mine works with her for free inside the house in the chair and in bed. She doesn’t do any “downward dogs” but she enjoys doing what she can. We pass a ball back and forth and do anything else we can think of to keep her moving. We will keep doing these things until she can’t or doesn’t want to. At that point she will truly be “bedridden” and probably not long for this world. I do have to do a lot of caretaking because she cannot get to the bathroom and has to be changed in bed. That is another subject, but even that can be made into a routine that gets easier once you find the things you need to make it so. I have help coming in during the week for a few hours every day. I take most weekends. No sisters - so it is me or a nursing home. Home care is our choice for now.
There is one mobility skill that my mother cannot do that is worth preserving if you can. That is the ability to stand and pivot to a wheelchair and chair. Even if she can’t walk, the ability to stand and pivot with assistance is valuable. However, it does present a transfer risk for falling if improperly done. Have a PT specialist train you both before doing. Best of luck.
Good advice, too, about not forcing more mobility than is safe for the person with weakness and instability. This should always be considered when choosing devices to assist mobility.
When someone is there, we push her. When she's alone, she uses her feet to scoot herself around quite effectively.
Best wishes.
If your Mum is weak she may not have any strength to propel herself.
My brother is looking at getting Dad a Rollator, because of the seat. Dad is using a walker now, but his legs are very weak and he runs out of energy quickly a seat is needed.
It’s small scale, comfortable, easy to push with shock absorbing wheels, folds up easily and fits into a car or taxi.
We have the ERGO-lite series.
If she needs a wheelchair have her doctor order one. The smaller transport chairs are easier to get around they are lighter to pick up as well. The question is though how weak is she getting will she be able to push herself in a wheelchair?
Regular wheelchairs are 18in wide. Go to a Durable equipment store. They can help you pick the right one.
Keep her moving! Wheelchairs are horrible. They slide in them and lean.
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