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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.
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I got my mom an inexpensive bed rail. It looks like a little ladder in an L shape. One side slides in between the box springs and mattress and the other part is about 16 inches wide and sticks up beside the bed like a grab rail. No tools, and can find at medical supply stores. It helped my mom tremendously after hip replacement.
My husband says fear of falling, freezing up immobile, and getting stuck are real concerns for people with Parkinsons. Teach your Mother to gently slide to the floor. Make friends with the floor, put a pillow, blanket, a cell phone, bottled water, and reading glasses and a good book on the floor nearest her bed. After she has rested, or become unfrozen, she can call for assistance. You are there for her right? She could have 3-4 people who she could call when this happens. She should not panic. Physical therapy can teach her ways to get up from the floor. I have answered this way because this may still happen to her even with grab bars. Make sure the floor is clean, and bless you and your Mother. Even though it is a rough road, take comfort that brave patients have episodes that are better, and can rally from even the most difficult times. I have seen it happen!
A bed railing is a great help in getting out of bed. After my husband died I even considered leaving it in place for me, but then decided to save it until I really need it and am not just feeling lazy. These are not intended to keep people from getting out of bed -- they are intended to provide a sturdy surface to pull on/rest on while getting out of bed. Once the person can swing her legs over the side and steady herself on holding the railing for a few seconds, falls are minimized.
The nursing home where my mom is uses a folding mat that looks like something used in a gym. They place it next to the bed once she is in for the night, just in case.
In your case it sounds like a firmer mattress might be a good investment.
Jeanne makes a good point: these rails are not to confine but offer a grab bar to help. I was considering anchoring a trapeze type thing from the ceiling for my mom until I saw this thing on line. Sometimes the smallest things can improve life so dramatically for elders.
P.S. There may not be a perfect bed or railing. Just saying, we know someone who has changed beds, added assistive devices, rails, mini-stairs, then changed them. What about investing in a high tech hospital bed that raises and lowers? Has anyone found this helpful for a patient with Parkinson's? I guess we all could have anything we needed if we had the money.
She has rails on both sides.The problem is that the mattress is so soft that when she sits on edge of bed she starts to slide.Has bad back so can't sleep on firmer mattress.Thought of transfer board to a wheelchair and could possibly stand from there.
I thought firmer was usually better for bad backs, but I am certainly no expert!
Have you considered asking her doctor to order an in-home physical therapy (or maybe it is occupational therapy) visit, to evaluate her bedroom situation, and perhaps any other home safety concerns you may have? Let a real expert look at the situation and make suggestions!
SShe has had PT.My sister and I are both OT 's...So it is not like we have not tried or o.We have rails.We have adaptive equipment.She cannot sleep o. Firm mattress due to back (chronic) longterm pain.I just thought maybe someone put there had an idea or something we missed.She has hospital bed but won't use it...once again matress too soft.Thanks for all rhe replies.She is 91 years old and wants to stay home.Had aides that come in during the day.Guess it is about time to move her.
Years ago, I read a tip to firm up the surface between the box spring and mattress. You may want to try placing plywood in between. The mattress would still have the same softness, but the edge of the bed would stay firm providing a more stable foundation to stand from bed. Makes sense. I do not know of anybody that has tried it. It may very well be one of those worthless pieces of information stored in my brain. Hopefully, those pieces of info will never become lost.;-)
I would put a border on the side of her bed where she gets up. Put it between the mattress and box spring. It also helps people who fall out of bed. Try a rolled blanket or firm foam wedge?
Robbieraye,Your loved one may be heading to inability for one reason or another. Each case is different. Example of my husband, who gradually went down due to health issues. Right leg had been bad for number of years, and he would not see about it, nor did he want shots in knee or surgery, nor did he even wish to find out if anything could be done or not. After his first hospital stay with blood clots in lungs and in right leg, which was nearly four years ago this coming winter, he has been in and out of hospitals and a few times in rest home. For a number of months after slipping out of bed to floor, like you mentioned regarding your mother and the soft mattress, we purchased a special made firm mattress from a mattress company, and then to make it bearable to lay on, placed three inch memory foam on top of it. That helped for some time, but it soon was "don't get out of bed without assistance" for we had purchased a lift in order to help get him off floor so many times, for our son just could not lift his over two pounds of weight anymore. He give early symptoms of Parkinson, but that was dismissed as major issue and may or may not have been working on him, probably not, for he had other issues of greater concern. Back and knee, congestive heart failure, diabetes,(entered picture after inflammation drug treatment following bout with pneumonia.) Gradually he was not able to stand and transfer to wheel chair and went down while trying for last time to get in wheel chair (even with assistance), never able to transfer to wheel chair again. Other major issues had developed to point he has been bed fast, going on two years now. He travels by ambulance only. To hospital and then home again by ambulance. He is doing as well, or better than expected by home care. It takes it's toll on family due to circumstances of not being able to qualify for medicaid. Our hopes are that he will qualify eventually, and stay in home with some monetary and added physical help which he really should have qualified for years back. Rules and regulations are not always balanced to some individual circumstances. But watching how my husband gradually went down, I would highly recommend that your mother call for standby assistance. for there is a pattern developing as it looks like to me. We tried all of the different hand assistant rails and poles that helped for a few months, but finally they did not do it any more. Handles held secure by mattress and other connections, half bed rails, poles by bed anchored from ceiling to floor, Even with stand by assistance, he finally . while trying to transfer to wheel chair, went down for his last fall. Never to stand again. Amazingly through all of his falls outside and inside the home and other places, he never broke a bone. One can do only so much to keep a body going. Close observance may alert you to what step is needed next for best interests of all. Take care. Love is sent to you. joylee
Mother had the same problem, she thought a rail would help. I had her look online at dozens of them, she chose one, it came the next day!! and my brother installed it. She slid out of bed that night and got trapped in the rail. (sigh) back it went. Actually, the booklet that came with this railing said NOT to use it with small children or elderly patients. I don't know what kind would have been OK. Now Mother sleeps more in the middle of the bed, no falling since then (and the removal of the bed ruffle, which made sliding a real danger).
Robbieraye- there are lots of options that could help. With Parkinsons getting in/out of bed and repositioning issues are huge problems. Many people think "getting a hospital bed" is the solution but that does very little to help with transfer issues. It falls back to a caregiver to help (often a lightweight spouse getting up many times a night) and an injury to the caregiver causes everything to fall apart. Paying help 24/7 (expensive) or leaving home (also expensive) are two unpopular options. Every situation is different but there are assistive devices available that would address the particular problems that are occurring. This is my area of expertise- I would be glad to offer suggestions if you contact me and let me know a bit more information.
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.
Make sure the floor is clean, and bless you and your Mother. Even though it is a rough road, take comfort that brave patients have episodes that are better, and can rally from even the most difficult times. I have seen it happen!
The nursing home where my mom is uses a folding mat that looks like something used in a gym. They place it next to the bed once she is in for the night, just in case.
In your case it sounds like a firmer mattress might be a good investment.
Has anyone found this helpful for a patient with Parkinson's? I guess we all could have anything we needed if we had the money.
Have you considered asking her doctor to order an in-home physical therapy (or maybe it is occupational therapy) visit, to evaluate her bedroom situation, and perhaps any other home safety concerns you may have? Let a real expert look at the situation and make suggestions!
Even with stand by assistance, he finally . while trying to transfer to wheel chair, went down for his last fall. Never to stand again. Amazingly through all of his falls outside and inside the home and other places, he never broke a bone. One can do only so much to keep a body going. Close observance may alert you to what step is needed next for best interests of all. Take care. Love is sent to you. joylee