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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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I acknowledge and authorize
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I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
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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:
Okay, I'm having problems posting again. Sections are jamming, or disappearing, so this response is a bit disjointed.
I've gotten lists of home care agencies as well as rehabs from the Alzheimers Assn. and the AAA. The latter took a whole week to put together a list. The AA emailed list in generally less than 45 min, sometimes only about 1/2 hour.
I also had a special benefit; one of my nursing friends had worked part time at rehabs while also working full time as a Head Start nurse. She gave me a lot of good insights.
I'm unclear though whether or not your father will be going to a rehab facility for interim treatment before coming home. Rehab would definitely be dictated in this situation; it's an interim level of healing before coming home, and it gives you time to then search for home care agencies.
For rehabs, I eventually learned to inquire about size and diversity of staff, especially speech therapists. For home care agencies, size can be an issue, as sometimes there were only a few aides in some categories, which could be a problem if one becomes unavailable.
Contact local rehabs after checking out their websites (but which are always glowing with praise), ask for a tour. Someone suggested to me that going during mealtime presents an opportunity to see the residents in a dining room, observe interactions between staff and patients, but also to observe post-dining activity and support from the staff.
This could be critical; I interviewed one rehab facility and was overwhelmingly impressed until my father called the next day day and said "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" The positive presentation disappeared when post-meal time revealed a drastic shortage of personnel. Multiple people eating in their rooms needed bathroom assistance, but an inadequate number of aides were tied up and...well, you can guess the rest. Not pleasant!
In addition, he food was totally inedible. I've never seen anything so gross. The fish looked and felt like plaster. I had to bring food from home until I could get Dad moved a few days later.
One question to ask is the ratio of staff (nurses, aides) to patients. I don't remember for sure what an ideal ratio was, but I think it was no more than 12 patients to a staffer (I also don't remember if that was to a nurse, or an aide).
When you interview, look for activity rooms, patients sitting alone (not a good sign), libraries, nice clean cafeteria, and whatever else you think should be in a good facility.
But do create a checklist of questions, and contact the ones that interest you before selecting one. In my experience choices of rehabs can be heavily influenced by the hospital discharge planners. After a few rounds of that nonsense, I chose my own rehabs, but I did ask the discharge planner to interview any rehabs that had staff reps at the hospital. That was how I found what I considered to be the better than average rehabs.
The reps were professional; we usually spend 1/2 to 3/4 hour discussing what I wanted to discuss. It's also a good way to learn how a particular rehab represents itself.
In my experience social workers at rehab are charged with assisting caregivers with finding home care, as the next step in recovery. Typically a few brochures are handed out, reflecting that the agencies are top notch and great for everything. This is when you have to start researching, calling with a checklist, and making decisions.
The best rehab facility we had sent an OT and PT home with us one day before discharge to review Dad's home and make suggestions on safety issues as well as what to expect from home care. But there was one home care agency that was tops; it was affiliated with a Catholic hospital in an area known for its quality medical treatment. I wish every agency were that professional!
I'm going to post what is in your profile because I think the info is pertinent to how people answer the question:
"My sister and I are caring for our father with the help of in home caregivers. I live an hour away from him, so I can't get there quickly. He is blind and cannot do anything for himself except eat. We are having a hard time trying to deciding what to do next.
He is currently in the hospital to remove fluid from him and we are told he should go into rehab. He has congestive heart failure and is very weak.
We want him to be comfortable and peaceful."
My suggestion would be to join Nextdoor.com for your area, then ask those in your community with first-hand current experience for their input. At least you will know the reviews and ratings are real, and you will get more nuanced insights. Good luck!
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've gotten lists of home care agencies as well as rehabs from the Alzheimers Assn. and the AAA. The latter took a whole week to put together a list. The AA emailed list in generally less than 45 min, sometimes only about 1/2 hour.
I also had a special benefit; one of my nursing friends had worked part time at rehabs while also working full time as a Head Start nurse. She gave me a lot of good insights.
I'm unclear though whether or not your father will be going to a rehab facility for interim treatment before coming home. Rehab would definitely be dictated in this situation; it's an interim level of healing before coming home, and it gives you time to then search for home care agencies.
For rehabs, I eventually learned to inquire about size and diversity of staff, especially speech therapists. For home care agencies, size can be an issue, as sometimes there were only a few aides in some categories, which could be a problem if one becomes unavailable.
Contact local rehabs after checking out their websites (but which are always glowing with praise), ask for a tour. Someone suggested to me that going during mealtime presents an opportunity to see the residents in a dining room, observe interactions between staff and patients, but also to observe post-dining activity and support from the staff.
This could be critical; I interviewed one rehab facility and was overwhelmingly impressed until my father called the next day day and said "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" The positive presentation disappeared when post-meal time revealed a drastic shortage of personnel. Multiple people eating in their rooms needed bathroom assistance, but an inadequate number of aides were tied up and...well, you can guess the rest. Not pleasant!
In addition, he food was totally inedible. I've never seen anything so gross. The fish looked and felt like plaster. I had to bring food from home until I could get Dad moved a few days later.
One question to ask is the ratio of staff (nurses, aides) to patients. I don't remember for sure what an ideal ratio was, but I think it was no more than 12 patients to a staffer (I also don't remember if that was to a nurse, or an aide).
When you interview, look for activity rooms, patients sitting alone (not a good sign), libraries, nice clean cafeteria, and whatever else you think should be in a good facility.
But do create a checklist of questions, and contact the ones that interest you before selecting one. In my experience choices of rehabs can be heavily influenced by the hospital discharge planners. After a few rounds of that nonsense, I chose my own rehabs, but I did ask the discharge planner to interview any rehabs that had staff reps at the hospital. That was how I found what I considered to be the better than average rehabs.
The reps were professional; we usually spend 1/2 to 3/4 hour discussing what I wanted to discuss. It's also a good way to learn how a particular rehab represents itself.
In my experience social workers at rehab are charged with assisting caregivers with finding home care, as the next step in recovery. Typically a few brochures are handed out, reflecting that the agencies are top notch and great for everything. This is when you have to start researching, calling with a checklist, and making decisions.
The best rehab facility we had sent an OT and PT home with us one day before discharge to review Dad's home and make suggestions on safety issues as well as what to expect from home care. But there was one home care agency that was tops; it was affiliated with a Catholic hospital in an area known for its quality medical treatment. I wish every agency were that professional!
"My sister and I are caring for our father with the help of in home caregivers. I live an hour away from him, so I can't get there quickly. He is blind and cannot do anything for himself except eat. We are having a hard time trying to deciding what to do next.
He is currently in the hospital to remove fluid from him and we are told he should go into rehab. He has congestive heart failure and is very weak.
We want him to be comfortable and peaceful."
My suggestion would be to join Nextdoor.com for your area, then ask those in your community with first-hand current experience for their input. At least you will know the reviews and ratings are real, and you will get more nuanced insights. Good luck!