Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
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.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
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.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
My mother is 77 and has end stage dementia, probably Lewy body. She has been placed in hospice care. We are considering donating her body for research. Anyone have any experience with this?
@Titansfan, yes our family has had 100% excellent experience with "Willed Body Programs", so much so that my partner and I have signed up for same.
Here is a link which gives contact details of three local-to-Kentucky Willed Body programs as well as alphabetically those in other states (I don't know if this is a comprehensive list):
I encourage you and your dear mother to consider this, as the donation of bodies helps medical students, researchers, etc to learn and, ultimately, to help the whole world. We all benefit.
We contacted our local program: they sent us easy-to-fill-out forms, we sent the filled-out forms back to be added to their system, and received a credit-card sized hard plastic ID card to place in wallet, so that anyone can grab the info card from the donor's purse or wallet and dial the phone number immediately upon loved one's death.
They also sent us big magnets to place on the fridge to alert emergency personnel (who will often look in fridge for medications, and on fridge for emergency instructions) that one has signed up for a Willed Body program. Card and big magnet both make totally clear to phone 24/7/365.
We live in California, so chose the University of California Willed Body program. Even if we are travelling throughout USA, we were told if the unthinkable occurs and one of us dies, to immediately dial the toll-free phone number which is answered 24 hours per day 365 days per year, and if the deceased isn't near the "home" research hospital, they will do their best to find another research hospital to accept the body. In our case, we are big travellers so we are comforted knowing the process is easier and better-thought-out than we had realized.
Your dear mother is probably so frail that travel isn't in her future, but I wanted to write the above paragraph for other people who might be considering donating to their local Willed Body program and wondered what would happen if they were travelling.
For our family members' deaths, in one case a professional caregiver happened to realize death had occured so immediately phoned the toll free number on the card, then phoned us. We jumped in car and were there in less than an hour, and were amazed that the gentleman from the Willed Body program was already there with a discreet hearse-like vehicle (that didn't scream hearse or death, it was just properly capacious) and medical wheeled cot. He waited for us to say a last tearful goodbye, then gently covered our loved one's body, gave his condolences to us so respectfully and truthfully, then trundled the body to vehicle and that was that. We waved goodbye thru tears.
In the other cases, we happened to be with our loved ones as they failed, so knew when they died, and followed the identical procedure as above. In one case the program person asked if they could collect the body in two hours rather than immediately, and that was okay with us; we knew our loved one was finally out of agonizing pain, and was in a better place. I don't know what would've happened if we had refused to allow the delay in body pick-up.
In each case, we within days received a professional letter of condolence and letter of thanks for our loved-ones' generosity in agreeing to participate in the Willed Body program.
In the county where one of our family died, their program has an annual or bi-annual event where the bereaved can all come to honor their dead. In another county they sent us a packet of flower seeds to sow and as flowers come up, remember the beauty of our loved one's life well-lived, and beauty even in death.
In our case, the bodies are eventually cremated, and there is NOT the possiblility of getting the cremains. That is okay with us, we know our loved ones are healthy, vibrant, happy and beautiful in Heaven. We want to remember that, and not their ill final days.
I hope this helps, and will be thinking good thoughts for you & your mom for her final days.
Human body parts are such a wonderful gift to those who need them. So not only consider research but donating to those awaiting a cornea transplant, heart, kidney, liver, human tissue or whatever else.
I had a medical procedure years ago that involved the transplant of tissue to repair a defect that I never knew I had before I became sick. I asked where they got it, and the doctor said that no one had ever asked him before. He said, "It's from a cadaver." Some might freak out at this info, but I felt only deep gratitude to the person who donated her/his body for that purpose.
Setting this up now for my wife. https://brainsupportnetwork.org They can arrange brain and/or body donation. Extremely helpful and caring, and they coordinate everything.
Nice for something positive to come out of this terrible disease, contributing to research towards a cure.
Also, a definitive diagnosis with an included pathology report will bring some sort of closure and information for children.
A thoughtful and caring decision by your family IMHO.
Research is the only way to help find cures for diseases. Donating organs (or your body) is a very selfless act. I signed up as an organ donor through the DMV.
My husband was diagnosed with FTD a few years ago. We have everything set up through the Brain Support Network to donate his brain. We are in Ohio but have been told his brain will be sent to Jacksonville, Florida for research. They will send us an detailed report and we will know for sure if he has FTD. The Brain Support Network is very easy to work with and very appreciative of us being willing to donate his brain.
My MIL ( still alive) told us she filled out paperwork to donate her body to the local large medical school at a state university. Try a university or a medical school.
I should add that the university is keeping MIL body for the medical students to learn for 2-3 years . Then the donor program has her cremated and will be sending her ashes to my husband .
This is in South Carolina but the FAQs give a lot of insight that are probably similar to other programs. I don't know if they accept donations from out of state or not. The way she described the process, it was handled with the utmost respect and dignity. Since you say "maybe" Lewy body you may want to be sure a brain bank is involved and this may give you some answers. One thing to be aware is it states that there is a difference between being an organ donor and a research donor so be sure you are connecting with a program that will do what your family prefers.
Somehow I am not comfortable with whole body donation yet, but since my husband has agreed to be an organ donor I am seriously considering arranging for his brain to be donated along with any organs and tissues that can be used. They may be handled by different organizations. Another friend tried to donate her husband's brain but was not able to do so because she had not arranged it prior to his death. Different programs have different policies so definitely begin identifying facilities you may want to consider and contact them now to know your choices. If possible I definitely would be more comfortable making the decisions and arrangements ahead of time rather than when I am dealing with a death.... and of course those decisions can also be rescinded at any time before.
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.
Here is a link which gives contact details of three local-to-Kentucky Willed Body programs as well as alphabetically those in other states (I don't know if this is a comprehensive list):
https://ieds.online/body-donation-programs-by-state/
I encourage you and your dear mother to consider this, as the donation of bodies helps medical students, researchers, etc to learn and, ultimately, to help the whole world. We all benefit.
We contacted our local program: they sent us easy-to-fill-out forms, we sent the filled-out forms back to be added to their system, and received a credit-card sized hard plastic ID card to place in wallet, so that anyone can grab the info card from the donor's purse or wallet and dial the phone number immediately upon loved one's death.
They also sent us big magnets to place on the fridge to alert emergency personnel (who will often look in fridge for medications, and on fridge for emergency instructions) that one has signed up for a Willed Body program. Card and big magnet both make totally clear to phone 24/7/365.
We live in California, so chose the University of California Willed Body program. Even if we are travelling throughout USA, we were told if the unthinkable occurs and one of us dies, to immediately dial the toll-free phone number which is answered 24 hours per day 365 days per year, and if the deceased isn't near the "home" research hospital, they will do their best to find another research hospital to accept the body. In our case, we are big travellers so we are comforted knowing the process is easier and better-thought-out than we had realized.
Your dear mother is probably so frail that travel isn't in her future, but I wanted to write the above paragraph for other people who might be considering donating to their local Willed Body program and wondered what would happen if they were travelling.
For our family members' deaths, in one case a professional caregiver happened to realize death had occured so immediately phoned the toll free number on the card, then phoned us. We jumped in car and were there in less than an hour, and were amazed that the gentleman from the Willed Body program was already there with a discreet hearse-like vehicle (that didn't scream hearse or death, it was just properly capacious) and medical wheeled cot. He waited for us to say a last tearful goodbye, then gently covered our loved one's body, gave his condolences to us so respectfully and truthfully, then trundled the body to vehicle and that was that. We waved goodbye thru tears.
In the other cases, we happened to be with our loved ones as they failed, so knew when they died, and followed the identical procedure as above. In one case the program person asked if they could collect the body in two hours rather than immediately, and that was okay with us; we knew our loved one was finally out of agonizing pain, and was in a better place. I don't know what would've happened if we had refused to allow the delay in body pick-up.
In each case, we within days received a professional letter of condolence and letter of thanks for our loved-ones' generosity in agreeing to participate in the Willed Body program.
In the county where one of our family died, their program has an annual or bi-annual event where the bereaved can all come to honor their dead. In another county they sent us a packet of flower seeds to sow and as flowers come up, remember the beauty of our loved one's life well-lived, and beauty even in death.
In our case, the bodies are eventually cremated, and there is NOT the possiblility of getting the cremains. That is okay with us, we know our loved ones are healthy, vibrant, happy and beautiful in Heaven. We want to remember that, and not their ill final days.
I hope this helps, and will be thinking good thoughts for you & your mom for her final days.
I had a medical procedure years ago that involved the transplant of tissue to repair a defect that I never knew I had before I became sick. I asked where they got it, and the doctor said that no one had ever asked him before. He said, "It's from a cadaver." Some might freak out at this info, but I felt only deep gratitude to the person who donated her/his body for that purpose.
I have registered to be a donor.
https://brainsupportnetwork.org
They can arrange brain and/or body donation.
Extremely helpful and caring, and they coordinate everything.
Nice for something positive to come out of this terrible disease, contributing to research towards a cure.
Also, a definitive diagnosis with an included pathology report will bring some sort of closure and information for children.
A thoughtful and caring decision by your family IMHO.
At the end of his life he was adamant about donating his body in the hope of research finding something valuable from his body.
I deeply admire those who donate their bodies to a teaching hospital like my uncle did.
The Brain Support Network is very easy to work with and very appreciative of us being willing to donate his brain.
https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/pathology/division-of-experimental-pathology/ccnl/how-to-become-a-donor
This is in South Carolina but the FAQs give a lot of insight that are probably similar to other programs. I don't know if they accept donations from out of state or not. The way she described the process, it was handled with the utmost respect and dignity. Since you say "maybe" Lewy body you may want to be sure a brain bank is involved and this may give you some answers. One thing to be aware is it states that there is a difference between being an organ donor and a research donor so be sure you are connecting with a program that will do what your family prefers.
Somehow I am not comfortable with whole body donation yet, but since my husband has agreed to be an organ donor I am seriously considering arranging for his brain to be donated along with any organs and tissues that can be used. They may be handled by different organizations. Another friend tried to donate her husband's brain but was not able to do so because she had not arranged it prior to his death. Different programs have different policies so definitely begin identifying facilities you may want to consider and contact them now to know your choices. If possible I definitely would be more comfortable making the decisions and arrangements ahead of time rather than when I am dealing with a death.... and of course those decisions can also be rescinded at any time before.
See All Answers