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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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Picking at bumps etc on skin, is a sign of Alzheimer's. My mother in law does this do her fingernail beds and forehead until they bleed. . We tried putting a round bandaid on her forhead. It worked for a short time until she took it off. After we had to restart her Celexa for agitation, she seems to do it much less.
My grandma would pick her legs into bloody nubs..it was awful. Closely trimmed nails (with pretty polish) helped but ultimately we ended up bandaging whatever area she was picking at. I think boredom was a part of it as well. Maybe crosswords or something to occupy the hands otherwise
It's dementia related and can be symptom of anxiety. Yes, trimming nails helps, wearing long sleeves and long pants helps too. It's hard to prevent them picking on their head, but some people do not mind wearing hats. Again, some soothing smells can calm your loved one down. Use essential organic oils to diffuse in the room or apply directly to the skin. For some residents in my care it worked. I used lavender, Valor (Young Living Oils), Frankincense, peppermint, etc. So, be creative! Find what might work for your loved one.
What kind of bumps? If they are the tiny little raised bumps on top of the skin just make sure the skin is clean, fingernails are short and apply an antibacterial ointment if skin opens. Without seeing the "bumps" I am not sure you can watch a person 24 hours a day. Go see a dermatologist.
Has this been looked at by a doctor? Had an experience with elder itching/scratching and thought it was her renal failure symptoms, turned out to be scabies.
Please, do not use antibiotics for elderly people without real need! Their immune system is already jeopardized. Even if it seems so innocent, applying antibiotic cream might (WILL!) trigger some side affects. Old people are prone to horrible yeast infection, dermatosis/skin infections and many other conditions. When you work with this population, the less is best! Simply keep right humidity in the room, make sure they are busy doing something "productive", use appropriate clothes, clean and moisturize their skin with natural oils (coconut, palm, etc), use natural remedies to sooth and calm them, and make sure your loved one is not depressed/agitated or going through anxiety period. Those issues should be addressed to the doctor.
My mom does this sometimes too - I think it's agitation, nerves and a nervous habit more than anything. Try getting her busy with other activities to distract her and put on anti-itch cream - that seems to help my mom.
In dementia units I've seen socks put on hands or mittens used, if they are advanced in their dementia, to ward off intense scratching that can draw blood.
I need to clarify the problem. He sees a dermatologist every three months - has had numerous cancers removed. What he does is run his hands on his legs/arms searching for bumps and then picks at them - usually ending up bleeding. I agree that he is bored. I have tried to put lotion on him, but he considers that to be feminine - I guess it's one of those habits we just have to accept and keep washing! Thanks for the ideas - I didn't know it was another sign of dementia. Bless you all.
My mother-in-law feels around her mouth and chin area, finds skin bumps and picks at them all the time. I took her to her doctor who told her they were just thickened skin and were just one of the gifts that old age gives us. When we're in the car together she'll start messing with them, complaining that they itch. I have started putting some hand lotion, I'm using Udder Cream right now, and that seems to soothe the itching (for awhile) at least. She complains that they never used to be there when she was younger, and she's right...kinda. Also I'm having to keep lip balm on her lips constantly since she's picking at them too. Just sitting around in her memory care building with her hand on her face resting, is doing it. They try to keep them all busy too, but you can't keep an old person busy all the time.
My 91 year old mom "picks". Obviously, old people's skin usually has a lot of little scales, scabby places, etc. to pick at. With my mom, I keep her in loose but long sleeve shirts and long pants, both soft knit. It seems that if she can't feel it, she doesn't pick. I also a good dry skin lotion which I put on her a couple of times a week. It seems to help.
I have psorisis and it itches. Coconut lotion is good, there is other stuff also. At best, if I have the lotion near me, I can put that on the itch instead of scratching. Consider having pump bottles of soothing lotion at the various places she/he sits. Tell your dad the doctor said to put this lotion on the bumps to help them get better. I like the smell of Tea Tree, and it is a more masculine smell that maybe your dad would like. I also like Lavender which is an anti-inflammatory oil.
As a medical social worker, I see this every day. One tactic I use is purchasing toddlers toys for the patients to look at and pick at. Bright, primary colors seem to keep their attention longer. The infant/diaper isle at Wal-Mart has tons to choose from at reasonable prices. The patients enjoy the lights, music, colors and interaction. Try to get one that has a volume control so it doesn't drive you nuts. Soft stuffed animals are also great. The softness and the big, child-like eyes on the animal may help keep them busy and mesmerized for a couple of hours. I know we've all seen patients in their room or common area of a nursing home, just sitting there with the TV blaring or the staff will play todays country music, but softer classical music really does go a long way in soothing their souls.This will work for a while but the habit of picking at sores, their nose, ears and mouth will only get worse as their disease progresses. Many of our patients are also on medication to calm them and ease their agitation levels. This helps to cut down on infection rates. The ladies in my care usually like the above ideas, but not so with the gentlemen. I'm still working on that!
Picking at the skin is an obsessive compulsive disorder sometimes, very hard to divert them from doing it, I have found extremely short fingernails combined with extra slippery lotion, like one with a silicone base that stays on for a very long time can slow down or prevent damage to the skin. Sometimes you have to check and treat skin damage and reapply repeatedly throughout the day.....good luck, it is a difficult problem to deal with......hopefully they will get out of that stage soon.
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.
Again, some soothing smells can calm your loved one down. Use essential organic oils to diffuse in the room or apply directly to the skin. For some residents in my care it worked. I used lavender, Valor (Young Living Oils), Frankincense, peppermint, etc.
So, be creative! Find what might work for your loved one.
When you work with this population, the less is best!
Simply keep right humidity in the room, make sure they are busy doing something "productive", use appropriate clothes, clean and moisturize their skin with natural oils (coconut, palm, etc), use natural remedies to sooth and calm them, and make sure your loved one is not depressed/agitated or going through anxiety period. Those issues should be addressed to the doctor.
In dementia units I've seen socks put on hands or mittens used, if they are advanced in their dementia, to ward off intense scratching that can draw blood.