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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.
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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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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Unfortunately, there are few if any happy answers to questions about dementia.
It is not unusual for patients to lose their ability to communicate, and as her condition progresses you may become aware that she is losing even more of her current skills.
It is very important FOR YOU as the caregiving spouse to arrange for as much respite time FOR YOURSELF as possible, because in-home caregiving can quickly become VERY DIFFICULT to manage as patient needs progress.
A few points here and I am by no means an "expert" but... You believe she has Lewy Body dementia and the doctors say it would not make a difference in her meds if you know for sure. I disagree. It may not make a difference with the medications she is currently taking. But Lewy Body is one where a diagnosis is important because if she does have LBD there are certain medications that she should not take as they can be dangerous for her. For this reason alone I think getting an accurate diagnosis is important. (and I am one not to want to put someone through testing if it is not necessary.)
As far as the not being able to put together a sentence. My Husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's but I suspect he also had Vascular dementia. (did not want to put him through testing to be sure) He was pretty much non verbal the last 6 to 8 years of his life. He may have occasionally said a word her or there but never a sentence. I think, again not an expert, it was just the part of his brain that was damaged by the dementia(s). As far as eating...he always had a good appetite and that did not change until about the last month of his life. Although he did not eat as much as he did previously I did not have a problem getting him to eat. And the last few months he had to be fed. (pureed foods and thickened liquids) But it also took him much longer to eat before he would stop. Each person is different. Each brain is effected differently.
Lewybody to me is the worst of the Dementia because it effects the part of the brain where the emotions are. There are meds that work with one type of Dementia and not another. I think its important to know what Dementia they have.
My mother suffered from dementia and meds were useless to stop it from progressing. Loss of speech and understanding language goes with the territory, too.
I suggest you read this 33 of booklet online about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.
Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580
Jennifer is a nurse who worked for many years as an educator and counsellor for people with dementia and their families, as well as others in caring roles. She addresses the emotional and grief issues in the contexts in which they arise for families living with dementia. The reviews for her books are phenomenal b/c they are written in plain English & very easy to read/understand. Her writings have been VERY helpful for me.
My mother had dementia and the conversing was her issue. My dad was very healthy but lost his sense of smell to the extent that I'd come into their house and immediately know there was rotting meat in the refrigerator. I think that comes with age and possibly can come with dementia, but Mom never mentioned things not smelling or tasting right.
The next steps may become sleeping, not walking, and inability to swallow and it can still be months before death. There is no cure and there is really nothing to slow progress when she is this far in dementia. My MIL was in the stage your mother is in. The only reactions when my husband visited her was a little glimmer of amusement when she was shown very old family pictures
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.
Unfortunately, there are few if any happy answers to questions about dementia.
It is not unusual for patients to lose their ability to communicate, and as her condition progresses you may become aware that she is losing even more of her current skills.
It is very important FOR YOU as the caregiving spouse to arrange for as much respite time FOR YOURSELF as possible, because in-home caregiving can quickly become VERY DIFFICULT to manage as patient needs progress.
Even small breaks through the day can help you.
You are welcome here. Come often.
You believe she has Lewy Body dementia and the doctors say it would not make a difference in her meds if you know for sure.
I disagree.
It may not make a difference with the medications she is currently taking. But Lewy Body is one where a diagnosis is important because if she does have LBD there are certain medications that she should not take as they can be dangerous for her. For this reason alone I think getting an accurate diagnosis is important. (and I am one not to want to put someone through testing if it is not necessary.)
As far as the not being able to put together a sentence.
My Husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's but I suspect he also had Vascular dementia. (did not want to put him through testing to be sure)
He was pretty much non verbal the last 6 to 8 years of his life. He may have occasionally said a word her or there but never a sentence.
I think, again not an expert, it was just the part of his brain that was damaged by the dementia(s).
As far as eating...he always had a good appetite and that did not change until about the last month of his life. Although he did not eat as much as he did previously I did not have a problem getting him to eat. And the last few months he had to be fed. (pureed foods and thickened liquids) But it also took him much longer to eat before he would stop.
Each person is different. Each brain is effected differently.
Everything you mention is Dementia based.
I suggest you read this 33 of booklet online about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.
Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580
Jennifer is a nurse who worked for many years as an educator and counsellor for people with dementia and their families, as well as others in caring roles. She addresses the emotional and grief issues in the contexts in which they arise for families living with dementia. The reviews for her books are phenomenal b/c they are written in plain English & very easy to read/understand. Her writings have been VERY helpful for me.
The full copy of her book is available here:
https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtful-Dementia-Care-Understanding-Experience/dp/B09WN439CC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2E7WWE9X5UFXR&keywords=jennifer+ghent+fuller+books&qid=1657468364&sprefix=jennifer+ghent%2Caps%2C631&sr=8-2
Wishing you the best of luck with a difficult situation.