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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?
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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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In the hands of a good doctor, the lumbar puncture is fairly routine. Although there can be complications, they are unusual. the biggest problem with a dementia patient is understanding how important it is to cooperate with the instructions. It is more difficult if they can't follow instructions. I believe you might want to ask what they are looking for and what treatment would be planned if they find what they think it might be. All treatments are not appropriate for dementia patients. If I wouldn't opt for the treatment, I wouldn't do the test to get the diagnosis in the first place.
I personally had a couple of them. I was having seizures and the doctor needed to check for something within the spinal fluid. I do not remember pain from it but I was scared and you have to lay very still in a tight fetal position while the fluid is removed. I too would want to make sure that it really needs to be done especially if the person is of diminished capacity and unable to follow directions. I am suspicious anymore of tests and of their necessity.
If the person doing it is very capable in the procedure, there is nothing to worry about. My ME/CFS Specialist as done 100's, if not 1000's, and I had no problem with the two he has done on me. The only problems I had was not following instructions to remain flat for several days so the bubble from the spinal fluid removal has time to fill back up. If that bubble goes to your brain, you'll never forget the headache it gives you!
My mother had a spinal tap about 3 weeks ago and the change was remarkable. She has normal pressure hydrocephalus. She will be having a brain shunt put in this Friday to constantly relieve the pressure. The spinal convinced her to seek the treatment that would continuously do what the tap did for a few days. She had no trouble with the tap and she is 83
My father had one about 2 weeks ago. It was done in the doctor's office and I was in the room. It did not look fun but my dad indicated it wasn't too bad. He did not indicate any painful reaction to the procedure. Recovery was laying flat for a half hour or so. Instructions were to keep the area dry for 24 hours and to drink some caffeine (don't know why). Dad indicated no problems afterward and was fine the next day. He is 75 and is seeing a neurologist, having some trouble with leg weakness and the doc wanted to rule out certain things. Dad also had to have some blood drawn, which was sent to the lab in conjunction with the spinal fluid.
I have had two in my life. Not the most comfortable things, but I did not have any trouble, other than not liking to have to lie on my back for hours. They are suppose to deaden the area before they do the procedure.
What age loved one do you mean? My son had one as a child, I watched and there was no problem at all. They wanted to do one to my mom at 86 for hip surgery but her arthritis was so poor they couldnt and she had to have general anesthesia. It was to prevent her dementia from worsening from the anesthesia, which it sure did. Sometimes you have to have it, if they suspect meningitis or something, I wouldnt worry about it at all. Didnt many women used to have it during childbirth? good luck, just make sure its an experienced anestisist and not someone in training at the big hospitals.
Yes. I watched as my husband writhed with tremendous pain on his face and he even yelled out. The hematologist/oncologist could not find out why he has a persistent anemia, so he thought a spinal tap would give some answers. It did not reveal anything abnormal, and my husband (who has a high level of pain threshold) does not EVER want one again. You do not say why a doctor wants to give a spinal tap, but if we had more information that would be helpful. Spinal taps are given to detect meningitis, leukemia, etc. We need more info.
The spinal cord ends a few inches above the spot where the needle is inserted. Nerves branching off the spinal cord dangle loosely down through the thecal sac in what is called the cauda equina ("horse's tail"). Because the needle is inserted well below where the cord ends, there is almost no chance of cord damage or paralysis. Sometimes, the needle may brush against one of the nerves in the cauda equina, but this only causes damage in about 1 out of 1,000 people, and usually heals with time. More commonly you feel a brief electric twinge that goes down your leg. About 30% of people experience a headache but you will be advised to lay perfectly still on your back for an hour after the procedure. My husband did experience headaches for about 4 days after. Hope it helps good luck.
That's kind of scary. What is the reason? If it's for diagnosis, how badly do they need the answer? Will treatment change?
If I needed one, I would want to be sure that the person who will do it has a LOT of experience. I think the worst usual side effect is a hell of a headache, but can there be permanent damage?
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.
If I needed one, I would want to be sure that the person who will do it has a LOT of experience. I think the worst usual side effect is a hell of a headache, but can there be permanent damage?