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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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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It is possible that a person can be mildly impaired and not get worse. My grandmother was like this for years. Sometimes it would take her longer to remember something and she became difficult and ornery as well. It used to be called being senile. This term isn't used much anymore but it was a good description. She still did her crossword puzzles daily, and able to take care of her own ADLs without assistance. She stayed this way until she died. She never got worse and it did not turn into Alzheimer's or some other terrible variety of dementia.
My father has not been diagnosed. He had a stroke in Nov 2021 and lost functioning in half his body for awhile. We worked diligently to get back capabilities. We were told that whatever was back in 6 months would be the way he stayed. I am happy to say that is not what we are experiencing. His short term memory is dwindling, but his reasoning capability is better than six months ago, better than a year ago. I'm pleased where he is now because we can joke about the things he doesn't like (me spending money on his care - he says "its your inheritance") and what he likes (him spending money at the casino - when he wins, I say "great, you earned enough to go for another two days") LOL. He turns 90 in February and is doing great and cognitively better.
My mom was diagnosed with MCI probably at least 15 years ago. I can’t even remember it was so long ago. It seemed to get worse when my Dad died bc he made up for her deficiencies. I’ve had to closely manage everything now for over 7 years and it ebbs and flows. Worse right before something medically happens (and I usually think the dementia is finally really happening). She actually became sharper than she had been in over a decade after she was in assisted living a few months - I think that the alleviation of even more of her “cognitive load” really was taking an unseen toll. She’s 91 now and I think other factors are influencing her behaviors and slowly starting to drag her down again.
My husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2000 at the age of 80. I continued to notice more declining. In 2024 he did the test again and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He is now declining rapidly and has hospice. Our nurse said, when I asked how much longer did she think he had, maybe a year.
I was told that if MCI is diagnosed for someone in their 80's/90's that they will likely not die from ALZ but from natural causes. The late onset ALZ is slow progressing. I saw evidence of this my mom. However, there will be a decline though it's still progressing.
“Mild Cognitive Impairment” (MCI) is not the same thing as dementia. In fact, one of the defining features of MCI is that cognitive problems are noticeable, but daily functioning is still mostly preserved. And importantly, some people with MCI progress to dementia, some remain stable for years, and some even improve.
So if it never progresses, was it dementia? Usually, no. Dementia generally implies:
- ongoing neurodegeneration, - worsening cognition over time, - increasing impairment in daily functioning.
If someone has mild impairment that stays stable for many years, or improves, that suggests something other than classic progressive dementia may be going on.
Conditions that can cause stable or non-progressive mild impairment:
without true neurodegenerative disease. Especially after age 70–80, some mild changes can remain relatively stable.
2) Depression or anxiety (“pseudodementia”)
Depression in older adults can strongly affect: memory, concentration, motivation, processing speed. When treated, cognition sometimes improves substantially.
Poor sleep can significantly impair cognition but may stabilize or improve if treated.
4) Medication effects. Very common in older adults. Examples: benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), anticholinergic medications, some sleep aids, opioids, polypharmacy overall. These can create persistent but non-progressive cognitive fog.
5) Vascular changes. Small-vessel disease or prior tiny strokes can produce:
Sometimes this remains relatively stable rather than steadily degenerating like Alzheimer’s.
6) Prior brain injury. Examples: subdural hematoma, concussion, anesthesia complications, ICU delirium, hypoxia. A person may recover partially and then plateau.
7) Chronic medical issues. Cognition can be affected by:
8) Lifelong baseline differences. Some individuals have always had mild executive-function weaknesses, ADHD-like traits, learning differences, or lower cognitive reserve, which become more noticeable with aging.
Important nuance: some MCI DOES progress very slowly, especially early Alzheimer’s disease. Someone may appear “stable” for 3, 5, even 8 years before clearer decline emerges. So neurologists often avoid making absolute predictions early.
What predicts higher likelihood of progression?
- worsening year to year, - impaired finances/medications/driving, - strong short-term memory decline, - getting lost, - personality change, - hallucinations, - abnormal brain imaging, - or abnormal neuropsychological testing.
What predicts stability?
More reassuring if symptoms fluctuate, improvement occurs, functioning remains intact, cognition worsens during stress/illness only, or deficits are mild and non-progressive over years.
One really important thing...families often hear “MCI” and assume “early dementia.” But medically, MCI is more accurately “an increased-risk category,” not a guaranteed path. Some people with MCI never develop dementia at all."
Most doctors will remark on "normal"changes with age. For example, at a recent cognitive screening by a neurologist my husband could not do one test at all, but was able to do the others. She remarked that he is "normal" for his age.
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.
“Mild Cognitive Impairment” (MCI) is not the same thing as dementia. In fact, one of the defining features of MCI is that cognitive problems are noticeable, but daily functioning is still mostly preserved. And importantly, some people with MCI progress to dementia, some remain stable for years, and some even improve.
So if it never progresses, was it dementia? Usually, no. Dementia generally implies:
- ongoing neurodegeneration,
- worsening cognition over time,
- increasing impairment in daily functioning.
If someone has mild impairment that stays stable for many years, or improves,
that suggests something other than classic progressive dementia may be going on.
Conditions that can cause stable or non-progressive mild impairment:
1) Aging-related cognitive slowing.
Some people simply develop:
- slower recall,
- reduced processing speed,
- mild word-finding difficulty,
without true neurodegenerative disease. Especially after age 70–80, some mild changes can remain relatively stable.
2) Depression or anxiety (“pseudodementia”)
Depression in older adults can strongly affect: memory, concentration, motivation, processing speed. When treated, cognition sometimes improves substantially.
3) Sleep disorders, especially:
- sleep apnea,
- chronic insomnia,
- fragmented sleep.
Poor sleep can significantly impair cognition but may stabilize or improve if treated.
4) Medication effects. Very common in older adults. Examples: benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), anticholinergic medications, some sleep aids, opioids, polypharmacy overall. These can create persistent but non-progressive cognitive fog.
5) Vascular changes. Small-vessel disease or prior tiny strokes can produce:
- mild executive dysfunction,
- slower thinking,
- attention problems.
Sometimes this remains relatively stable rather than steadily degenerating like Alzheimer’s.
6) Prior brain injury. Examples: subdural hematoma, concussion, anesthesia complications, ICU delirium, hypoxia. A person may recover partially and then plateau.
7) Chronic medical issues. Cognition can be affected by:
- thyroid disease,
- B12 deficiency,
- uncontrolled diabetes,
- chronic pain,
- inflammation,
- dehydration,
- kidney/liver disease.
Some effects are reversible or semi-stable.
8) Lifelong baseline differences. Some individuals have always had mild executive-function weaknesses, ADHD-like traits, learning differences, or lower cognitive reserve, which become more noticeable with aging.
Important nuance: some MCI DOES progress very slowly, especially early Alzheimer’s disease. Someone may appear “stable” for 3, 5, even 8 years before clearer decline emerges. So neurologists often avoid making absolute predictions early.
What predicts higher likelihood of progression?
- worsening year to year,
- impaired finances/medications/driving,
- strong short-term memory decline,
- getting lost,
- personality change,
- hallucinations,
- abnormal brain imaging,
- or abnormal neuropsychological testing.
What predicts stability?
More reassuring if symptoms fluctuate, improvement occurs, functioning remains intact, cognition worsens during stress/illness only, or deficits are mild and non-progressive over years.
One really important thing...families often hear “MCI” and assume “early dementia.” But medically, MCI is more accurately “an increased-risk category,” not a guaranteed path. Some people with MCI never develop dementia at all."
(Information aggregated by ChatGPT5.3)