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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?
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.
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She needs to take prescribed medications at the times and doses on the script, if you feel that they are causing harmful side effects speak to her doctor about it to see if there are other alternatives.
Read the label on the bottle. That'll tell you when the prescription was filled and with how many tablets. Now count the pills to make sure the correct number are missing for the number of days since the refill. Make sure you take into account whether the refill was for one month or three.
You can try filling a pill box for her if she will allow it. You can also visit daily and give the morning or evening dose and leave the next dose with a clear label of the time to be taken. If you have the right question her pharmacist or Dr about what prescriptions have been written within the past year. Prescriptions are only good for one year.
Make a clear list of all prescriptions you find so it can be taken to all Dr appointments. All medical records are now supposed to be in electronic form so one Dr can easily check her records from another Dr.
Finally dispose of any expired medications properly.
Does she live with you or independent? My dad is 95, lives independently and I "thought" he was taking his medicine correctly. He gets blood tests weekly for blood thinners and his numbers were always off. Come to find out that was the reason. He was taking all of them but some he was supposed to be taking at night some in the morning. That was throwing his tests off. Now I have a in home nurse coming once a week to do tests and make sure his meds are in the right daily/night container. I was doing it up until a couple of years ago and then made sure he was doing it right before handing the reins over to him. He is VERY unstable without his walker and is good about using it when he goes out but it in his apt due to furniture (and there's not that much). I would definetly check with the dr. At 99 there might not be anything that can be done due to declining age but along with that medication. Good luck and God Bless.
I am assuming that you are not worried about how much or how little medication Mom is taking but if what she is taking is causing her problems. I like the pharmacist idea. I feel they know more than the doctor's when it comes to interaction of meds. At 99 there maybe some she doesn't have to continue but this would be her Primary Drs call. Your Mom is 99, God bless her, things are going to start giving out. Does she use a walker, if not maybe she should. Does her diet include apple juice, prune juice, fresh fruits? The last thing I would give her is laxatives or stool softeners. My Mom did well on Phillips Milk of Magnesia. When u mean bowel problems, is it because she doesn't go everyday? Mom's Dr said if she didn't go by 3rd day, then Phillips first. But this is something that u should leave up to her Dr
I do want to say that as caregivers we need to keep a handle on our parents medications. Here where I live if Primary does not have privledges at the hospital you are in a staff doctor takes over and...they don't consult the primary. An example: Mom was in the hospital for Graves desease. Her heart rate was too fast so she was given medication and oxygen. This continued when shecwent home. Her postox was checked everyday and had been normal for over 2 months but she was still using oxygen and taking the med for her heart rate which had also been normal because of her thyroid meds. I questioned it all at Mom's next Dr. Visit. If I hadn't Mom may still be on both. The oxygen was stopped and the med for heart rate she was weaned off of. My husband has normal blood pressure. He went into the hospital for AFib which they were able to get under control. He was sent home with BP meds. I questioned why, I was told his BP was high. Yeah! because he was in AFib. He took them and went to see his Primary 2wks later for a follow up. His BP was so low she was surprised he could stand. She took him off the med right then. Next hospital visit, we will be seeing primary asap.
Thank you for sharing all your experiences. This is a tough one. I would have the doctor review her medications. I am very worried about the side effects of all the medications the elderly are taking. There is no one right answer for everyone, but its good to advocate as much as you can for your 99 year old mom. For myself, I would try to get by with a little meds as possible. Given her age, it might not be uncommon to have balance and bowel issues. But check with the doctor and get a second and third opinion if necessary.
When my parents moved in with me they were going to multiple Drs each month. I got a geriatric PC dr, and had him go over everything! Less Drs, less meds and (dad passed due to alz) mom is doing as well as can be expected at her age! Find a geriatric Dr, it was great for us
Just wanted to add that your mom must have done a lot right over the years to be 99. Do check out the geriatric primary if you can. It's been a positive thing for my aunt. Her prior primary didn't seem to be very aware of elder issues. Also my aunts pharmacist pointed out to me that one of her bp meds that she had been taking for years causes a lower pulse. I had been noticing her pulse was in the 50s so that was valuable information for her. Also ask whichever dr for a home health evaluation and physical therapy evaluation. This can really help monitor her vitals and strengthen her through therapy. Consider allergies for the dizziness. Notice her food intake. Has she lost weight? Does she have a good appetite. Also extreme heat and dehydration need to be monitored. She may feel comfortable when she is a little warm but is the heat depleting her?
At 99 chances are she is taking too much medication and/or too high dosages.
First, I would go to her pharmacist and ask for a consult. Pharmacists understand the effects of drugs on a person given their age and weight.
Second, I would take what the pharmacist says about all of her meds to her current primary care physician and ask for a consult with the express purpose of weening her off medication and/or lowering doses.
Unfortunately, many doctors are not properly trained in dosing old people. Old people are like children insofar as needing dosages adjusted for their age and weight. You wouldn't take your child to a general internist; that's what pediatricians are for.
Finally, I would consider finding a geriatrics practice and having her seen by a doctor and/or geriatric nurse practitioner who specializes in health care of old people.
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.
Next, is she seeing a geriatrics doctor? They often take a "less is more " approach to meds.
Third, how certain are you that she is taking only meds that have been prescribed and in the correct dosages?
You can try filling a pill box for her if she will allow it. You can also visit daily and give the morning or evening dose and leave the next dose with a clear label of the time to be taken. If you have the right question her pharmacist or Dr about what prescriptions have been written within the past year. Prescriptions are only good for one year.
Make a clear list of all prescriptions you find so it can be taken to all Dr appointments.
All medical records are now supposed to be in electronic form so one Dr can easily check her records from another Dr.
Finally dispose of any expired medications properly.
Keeps her digestive system in good order.
Do check out the geriatric primary if you can. It's been a positive thing for my aunt. Her prior primary didn't seem to be very aware of elder issues. Also my aunts pharmacist pointed out to me that one of her bp meds that she had been taking for years causes a lower pulse. I had been noticing her pulse was in the 50s so that was valuable information for her.
Also ask whichever dr for a home health evaluation and physical therapy evaluation. This can really help monitor her vitals and strengthen her through therapy.
Consider allergies for the dizziness.
Notice her food intake. Has she lost weight? Does she have a good appetite. Also extreme heat and dehydration need to be monitored. She may feel comfortable when she is a little warm but is the heat depleting her?
First, I would go to her pharmacist and ask for a consult. Pharmacists understand the effects of drugs on a person given their age and weight.
Second, I would take what the pharmacist says about all of her meds to her current primary care physician and ask for a consult with the express purpose of weening her off medication and/or lowering doses.
Unfortunately, many doctors are not properly trained in dosing old people. Old people are like children insofar as needing dosages adjusted for their age and weight. You wouldn't take your child to a general internist; that's what pediatricians are for.
Finally, I would consider finding a geriatrics practice and having her seen by a doctor and/or geriatric nurse practitioner who specializes in health care of old people.