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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
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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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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I assume these were prescribed by multiple doctors. Review the meds with ONE doctor. I'm sure some are redundant and can be eliminated.
I'm of the opinion that at some point multiple specialists are not useful, because they don't communicate with each other properly and overprescribe meds just like this.
Look at what they are, many may be supplements. Get with the parents primary physician and have her review. My husband and I use the primary for refills. If my husband has a specialist change one we let the primary know.
The number of meds and supplements my mom was about the same number, but she started rebelling taking them as so many tasted horrible when they had to be crushed due to her dysphagia.
Also wondering if these are vitamin supplements, if one multivitamin would do the trick.
Your profile says that your mom has Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes and sleep disorder.
My gosh, I doubt that she needs 30 meds!
My mom also had Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and trouble sleeping, no diabetes. She certainly didn’t take 30 different medications.
Even if some are supplements, that’s just crazy. Make a list of everything and discuss with her neurologist and primary care doctor.
Many years ago my allergist had me on too many meds for my allergies and asthma and I felt like I was on speed. I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I went to another doctor and he reduced my meds. I wasn’t jittery anymore and could rest.
I agree with reviewing with one doctor - but if you have to wait for an appointment there are also a couple of things you can do while you wait. You can go to your local pharmacist and ask them for a few minutes to review the list. They are experts in medication interactions and over-medication as well.
Most of our medications are through a mail order pharmacy. Just recently my DH started on a new medication, in addition to two other very powerful seizure medications, all three of which can have respiratory depressing side effects. In most cases it isn't recommended that patients take more than one, two is uncommon and three is pretty much discouraged. So when the pharmacist saw that he was starting on his third they called before they even considered filling it. They called DH first and when he explained why his doctor prescribed it, they called his doctor and talked through everything before agreeing that the dosages were safe (even still I spent quite a few sleepless nights when he first started on the third).
So pharmacists are an excellent resource if you are concerned about the number of medications - and potential interactions.
30 medications is a lot. My FIL I think we counted something like 38 at one point. It was just ridiculous. He had 9 doctors on a regular basis and I think 12 at the height. And the unreal thing was that you would see things like one pill to help him urinate and then another to help him NOT urinate (that one I still can't wrap my head around). We used to joke that it might be easier to tell someone what medications he WASN'T on!
Since he has been in the care facility - I think they have weaned him off of a number of those medications. I don't know exactly how many yet - he's only been there for two weeks - but he is seeing ONE doctor who is treating the whole body - and then if he needs a specialist - that one doctor is still monitoring that as well - that way everything is still under one umbrella. It certainly makes things easier to have one person overseeing everything.
The other thing you could potentially do for peace of mind is take the list of medications and go to a site like drugs.com and use the medication interactions tool. You can make a full list of the medications and it will tell you which ones have potential interactions, what they are, and how potentially dangerous they might be. This would give you a place to start with the doctor or pharmacist to ask questions.
That being said - be careful not to go too far down the rabbit hole. The internet has a wealth of knowledge but there is no replacement for well trained medical professionals.
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.
I'm of the opinion that at some point multiple specialists are not useful, because they don't communicate with each other properly and overprescribe meds just like this.
The number of meds and supplements my mom was about the same number, but she started rebelling taking them as so many tasted horrible when they had to be crushed due to her dysphagia.
Also wondering if these are vitamin supplements, if one multivitamin would do the trick.
Good luck!
My gosh, I doubt that she needs 30 meds!
My mom also had Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and trouble sleeping, no diabetes. She certainly didn’t take 30 different medications.
Even if some are supplements, that’s just crazy. Make a list of everything and discuss with her neurologist and primary care doctor.
Many years ago
my allergist had me on too many meds for my allergies and asthma and I felt like I was on speed. I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I went to another doctor and he reduced my meds. I wasn’t jittery anymore and could rest.
Most of our medications are through a mail order pharmacy. Just recently my DH started on a new medication, in addition to two other very powerful seizure medications, all three of which can have respiratory depressing side effects. In most cases it isn't recommended that patients take more than one, two is uncommon and three is pretty much discouraged. So when the pharmacist saw that he was starting on his third they called before they even considered filling it. They called DH first and when he explained why his doctor prescribed it, they called his doctor and talked through everything before agreeing that the dosages were safe (even still I spent quite a few sleepless nights when he first started on the third).
So pharmacists are an excellent resource if you are concerned about the number of medications - and potential interactions.
30 medications is a lot. My FIL I think we counted something like 38 at one point. It was just ridiculous. He had 9 doctors on a regular basis and I think 12 at the height. And the unreal thing was that you would see things like one pill to help him urinate and then another to help him NOT urinate (that one I still can't wrap my head around). We used to joke that it might be easier to tell someone what medications he WASN'T on!
Since he has been in the care facility - I think they have weaned him off of a number of those medications. I don't know exactly how many yet - he's only been there for two weeks - but he is seeing ONE doctor who is treating the whole body - and then if he needs a specialist - that one doctor is still monitoring that as well - that way everything is still under one umbrella. It certainly makes things easier to have one person overseeing everything.
The other thing you could potentially do for peace of mind is take the list of medications and go to a site like drugs.com and use the medication interactions tool. You can make a full list of the medications and it will tell you which ones have potential interactions, what they are, and how potentially dangerous they might be. This would give you a place to start with the doctor or pharmacist to ask questions.
That being said - be careful not to go too far down the rabbit hole. The internet has a wealth of knowledge but there is no replacement for well trained medical professionals.