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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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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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The hospice doctor or the PCP needs to verify that the person is medically eligible for hospice.
The person or someone acting on behalf of the person decides whether to use hospice at all, and when to start (assuming a doctor has verified eligibility.)
A doctor can't insist that someone go on hospice care. But a doctor is involved in the decision regarding when someone is eligible.
In my case it was me that decided to contact Hospice. I stopped into their office and asked how to find out if my Husband would qualify. After talking to me for a bit, I answered a lot of questions I was told..."I am surprised you did not come sooner".. I was told a CNA would contact me and set up an appointment, a nurse would contact me and schedule a visit. Within that week I had a CNA visit, a Nurse scheduled for early the following week. (I am sure the visits would have been scheduled sooner but my stop into the Hospice office was on a Thursday late in the afternoon) The next week the visits began, CNA 2 times a week, the Nurse weekly and as my Husband declined the CNA was increased to 3 times a week. Supplies began arriving weekly, medications then as needed things like tab briefs or pull ups, gloves, ointments and any equipment that I needed as we went along. I did not have to make any calls, I did not have to arrange delivery. The nurse would call and schedule for a day that was good for me then I was called by the equipment company and informed when the items would arrive. My choice to start Hospice for my Husband was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I made in the 12 year journey. By the way he was on Hospice for just over 3 years, so for anyone thinking there has to be 6 months or less...that is NOT the case. As long as there is a continued documented decline a patient can remain on hospice. (As long as they are no longer getting treatments for the condition that qualified them for Hospice) All it costs is a phone call to determine if there is qualification.
There are two types of Hospice...For Profit and Not for Profit. The Hospice I chose is a Not for Profit hospice. I can not say enough good about it (as a matter of fact I volunteer with them 3 days a week) I do not know if their Non profit status had anything to do with the care of not... Point being check several Hospice out and see what feels right. Just like selecting anything sometimes it works out sometimes not. If you are not pleased with one Hospice you can ALWAYS call another and there should not be a problems changing or if you feel it is the wrong decision at this time you can always discontinue hospice, return to the previous doctor and later go back on hospice if you choose to. And Hospice usually has an option of Palliative Care that you could choose prior to Hospice.
I called the doctor's office when Mom lost so much weight, the nurse told me that I could call hospice and gave me the number. Mom was evaluated within a day by hospice, in another 3 days she was confirmed and has been on it since March. Hospice works very quickly.
I never asked the physician for a determination for dad or dh - I made the decision and called Hospice for an evaluation. They come in and interview the person and ask medical history/questions and if the person meets the criteria, Hospice is granted. I'm sure it is run by the physician as well, but I made the determination myself and called for the evaluation. Dad had decided to quit dialysis. I called Hospice and they interviewed him in 2011. 5 days later he passed peacefully. DH had become feeble and frail and I just couldn't rationalize pushing him further at almost 97 years old. I kept him ambulatory until the last 3 days when he did become bedridden, this is also the day Hospice came. I actually had difficulty getting him into Hospice as he didn't quite meet the criteria. He passed peacefully after only 3 days - Hospice only supplied morphine as it can be painful when the organs are shutting down. For both of them, I stopped all medications from the day they were admitted to Hospice. I had no desire to prolong it for either of them.
The doctor made the request for my dad, then changed his mind......I made the request for my mom. The main thing is that the hospice intake nurse determine that your loved one qualifies for hospice. And know that someone can be in a nursing home and receive hospice.
For those who called Hospice without discussing it with a doctor, a doctor did have to sign off eventually. Whether for profit or nonprofit, they still have to stay within the guidlines. There always has to be a doctors order in place. A nonprofit still bills Medicare. Medicare and donations are how a nonprofit pays for their overhead. I doubt if the nurses work for free.
JoAnn29 In the case of the Hospice I used and volunteer for the payment is usually Medicare, Private insurance if the patient has any. And they have fundraisers throughout the year to have money so that no one is ever turned away because of lack of insurance or money to pay for the service. My Husband was also a Veteran so the Hospice worked with the VA to provide service, what Hospice could not cover the VA usually did. For example I/we needed wedges to provide more support and to help prevent pressure sores. Hospice did not supply them I was ready to buy them but the VA provided them through their PT department. So Nurses, CNA, Social Workers, Chaplains, Doctors and all the rest of the staff do not work for free but I am sure they could make more money working in the private sector. It takes a special group of people to do what Hospice workers 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.
The person or someone acting on behalf of the person decides whether to use hospice at all, and when to start (assuming a doctor has verified eligibility.)
A doctor can't insist that someone go on hospice care. But a doctor is involved in the decision regarding when someone is eligible.
If you need to learn more about Hospice, here is an excellent article: https://www.agingcare.com/local/hospice
I stopped into their office and asked how to find out if my Husband would qualify.
After talking to me for a bit, I answered a lot of questions I was told..."I am surprised you did not come sooner".. I was told a CNA would contact me and set up an appointment, a nurse would contact me and schedule a visit. Within that week I had a CNA visit, a Nurse scheduled for early the following week. (I am sure the visits would have been scheduled sooner but my stop into the Hospice office was on a Thursday late in the afternoon)
The next week the visits began, CNA 2 times a week, the Nurse weekly and as my Husband declined the CNA was increased to 3 times a week.
Supplies began arriving weekly, medications then as needed things like tab briefs or pull ups, gloves, ointments and any equipment that I needed as we went along.
I did not have to make any calls, I did not have to arrange delivery. The nurse would call and schedule for a day that was good for me then I was called by the equipment company and informed when the items would arrive.
My choice to start Hospice for my Husband was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I made in the 12 year journey.
By the way he was on Hospice for just over 3 years, so for anyone thinking there has to be 6 months or less...that is NOT the case. As long as there is a continued documented decline a patient can remain on hospice. (As long as they are no longer getting treatments for the condition that qualified them for Hospice)
All it costs is a phone call to determine if there is qualification.
There are two types of Hospice...For Profit and Not for Profit. The Hospice I chose is a Not for Profit hospice. I can not say enough good about it (as a matter of fact I volunteer with them 3 days a week) I do not know if their Non profit status had anything to do with the care of not... Point being check several Hospice out and see what feels right. Just like selecting anything sometimes it works out sometimes not.
If you are not pleased with one Hospice you can ALWAYS call another and there should not be a problems changing or if you feel it is the wrong decision at this time you can always discontinue hospice, return to the previous doctor and later go back on hospice if you choose to. And Hospice usually has an option of Palliative Care that you could choose prior to Hospice.
I never asked the physician for a determination for dad or dh - I made the decision and called Hospice for an evaluation. They come in and interview the person and ask medical history/questions and if the person meets the criteria, Hospice is granted.
I'm sure it is run by the physician as well, but I made the determination myself and called for the evaluation.
Dad had decided to quit dialysis. I called Hospice and they interviewed him in 2011. 5 days later he passed peacefully.
DH had become feeble and frail and I just couldn't rationalize pushing him further at almost 97 years old. I kept him ambulatory until the last 3 days when he did become bedridden, this is also the day Hospice came. I actually had difficulty getting him into Hospice as he didn't quite meet the criteria. He passed peacefully after only 3 days - Hospice only supplied morphine as it can be painful when the organs are shutting down.
For both of them, I stopped all medications from the day they were admitted to Hospice. I had no desire to prolong it for either of them.
These are always such hard decisions to make.
In the case of the Hospice I used and volunteer for the payment is usually Medicare, Private insurance if the patient has any. And they have fundraisers throughout the year to have money so that no one is ever turned away because of lack of insurance or money to pay for the service.
My Husband was also a Veteran so the Hospice worked with the VA to provide service, what Hospice could not cover the VA usually did. For example I/we needed wedges to provide more support and to help prevent pressure sores. Hospice did not supply them I was ready to buy them but the VA provided them through their PT department.
So Nurses, CNA, Social Workers, Chaplains, Doctors and all the rest of the staff do not work for free but I am sure they could make more money working in the private sector. It takes a special group of people to do what Hospice workers do..
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