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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.
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general and likely terminal decline. they lose body fat then muscle mass. the digestive system is quite inefficient. white chicken and cooked rice are two of the highest energy foods requiring the least energy to digest. be aware of their leisure " sitting / sleeping " arrangement because bones are pressing against flesh with little padding and pressure sores are a grave concern. they dont heal well , if ever.. a fall and broken bones are the reality for a huge percentage of declining elders so i would pay special attention to the safety conditions in the home.
thanks SA. if the elder is under the care of a good geriatric trained doc the doc visits will become more frequent as end of life draws closer. comfort and peace should become the goal at this point, imo.. agitation is usually the result of loss of control so id suggest letting the elder think they are making every decision .
Yeah, the literal direct answer to that question is "Time to go to the doctor, NOW!" but you already knew that...
Muscles can't rebuild and sores don't heal well with bad nutritional status. When we have a patient who either gets a sore with a minimal amount of pressure or does not heal one that really should be OK, and its not infected, we check albumin and pre-albumin levels and the results can be a surprise, sometimes calories total are not so bad but protein is way low. Vitamin D is often deficient or suboptimal too, and B12 and folate can also be checked.
So sorry this is happening, is it something that can be reversed back to baseline if she gts enough nutritional support, or are you starting to think this is it? You don't want to throw in the towel before its time, we see amazing rebounds often in the rehab biz...but at some point, not always possible. Hugs, either way...
She needs dr evaluation. She could be having some poor circulation which is causing the weakness in the legs, further the less she is up and around, the more weakness she will have especially if she has sat awhile. The fainting could be low blood sugar and this is common with elders. My dad had both of these and it helped that when he sat up, he would eat a couple crackers with peanut butter or cheese and have some juice, or sip a Boost or Ensure...then slowly stand up while he orientated himself. This helped him for awhile.
Eventually, he lost some muscle tone in his legs and complained about walking far, etc. It was a vicious cycle with needing to walk to keep strength up and just wanting to sit in a chair.
See a doctor to rule out anything serious. Keep moms nutrition up and have dr re assess drugs/meds and see if they need adjusted especially with her body weight.
It sounds like her blood pressure is low, but I'm not a doctor. Have the doctors checked her arteries? Feeling faint, weakness, and sores or ulcers on the skin that don't heal can be caused by peripheral vascular disease. There are many other effects. The main question would be that, if she does have it, would there be a benefit in trying to treat it. That depends on how much damage has been done and quality of life expected.
I don't know what might be going on and if something can be done. Sometimes it helps just understanding what it might be. My father had vascular disease that caused him to have weakness, low blood pressure in the end, leg ulcers, much pain in his legs muscles, and vascular dementia.
Hellen, a UTI is a urinary tract infection. I remind my MIL, age 86, every day is a gift from God when you are over 80. Just make sure mom is comfortable and happy. Our bodies don't heal like they did when we were younger and a lot can happen in two years.
A doctor visit is essential, however I would tend to agree with Captain. My mother, 87, in a NH with Parkinsons, stroke & dementia, broke a hip a year ago, hasn't walked since and never will. Before that I was able to get her in the truck and take her on outings. She now weighs less than my big labrador (Ashy is 85lb) and is unable to sit up or stand. According to her doctor "we just take it one day at a time".
I don't want to scare you, and there may be a fix for your mother's issues, but you have to consider all aspects for the future. Good luck!
My father has these same symptoms and was told that it was spinal compression - does she have bone loss? Both of my parents are losing muscle mass despite drinking the various protein drinks and having a good appetite, so I don't know what to tell you about that. Neuropathy can cause these symptoms. also ( poor circulation on the legs too) Dealing with this is distressing for me and I know it is for you as well - hard to know what to do.
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.
a fall and broken bones are the reality for a huge percentage of declining elders so i would pay special attention to the safety conditions in the home.
agitation is usually the result of loss of control so id suggest letting the elder think they are making every decision .
Yeah, the literal direct answer to that question is "Time to go to the doctor, NOW!" but you already knew that...
Muscles can't rebuild and sores don't heal well with bad nutritional status. When we have a patient who either gets a sore with a minimal amount of pressure or does not heal one that really should be OK, and its not infected, we check albumin and pre-albumin levels and the results can be a surprise, sometimes calories total are not so bad but protein is way low. Vitamin D is often deficient or suboptimal too, and B12 and folate can also be checked.
So sorry this is happening, is it something that can be reversed back to baseline if she gts enough nutritional support, or are you starting to think this is it? You don't want to throw in the towel before its time, we see amazing rebounds often in the rehab biz...but at some point, not always possible. Hugs, either way...
Eventually, he lost some muscle tone in his legs and complained about walking far, etc. It was a vicious cycle with needing to walk to keep strength up and just wanting to sit in a chair.
See a doctor to rule out anything serious. Keep moms nutrition up and have dr re assess drugs/meds and see if they need adjusted especially with her body weight.
I don't know what might be going on and if something can be done. Sometimes it helps just understanding what it might be. My father had vascular disease that caused him to have weakness, low blood pressure in the end, leg ulcers, much pain in his legs muscles, and vascular dementia.
I don't want to scare you, and there may be a fix for your mother's issues, but you have to consider all aspects for the future. Good luck!
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