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 heart goes out to you and your mom. My mom is in a similar situation having become progressively blind due to Macular. In addition she is in a wheelchair. She has been mild cognitive impairment which I think makes it more difficult as she is aware of her diminished quality of life. It's impossible for her to participate in the group recreational activities hosted by her care home. Her days are long and lonely. We have hired a private companion who is a senior that reads to her and plays music on her iPad. There is also a volunteer who takes her for walks in the adjacent park. The CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) has Resources such as book tapes and easy to use players. Family members come to visit whenever they can and make phone calls for her. It's a very difficult time with no easy solutions. My best to you and your mom.
My godmother went blind due to macular degeneration. It’s really hard for them to adjust. Their world has literally gone black.
Do you think your mom would enjoy audio books or soothing music? My area has a radio station that caters to the blind. They have volunteers who read wonderful books, articles from magazines, local newspapers, etc.
Call local resources in the area that help the blind. They will have suggestions for you.
All good suggestions - one activity our visually limited seniors enjoyed was making beaded necklaces and bracelets. Multi-colored wooden beads and fishing line were the only materials. Color order didn’t matter - and each one was truly unique! Audible books and tapes (second hand shop may have options) music all the time and definitely people she lovesaround for support - it must be so scary for her! .keeping things in their proper place is also essential to avoid frustration and breakage and tripping. senior centers and other service organizations may help - Consider personal care / companion - human or a trained service animal- if she is otherwise well and not living with dementia. Other senses may be heightened - smells and sounds may become more noticeable. here are several service organizations that may help. https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/resources-for-visually-impaired/#:~:text=American%20Foundation%20for%20the%20Blind,-The%20primary%20goal
Hi! The nonprofit caregiver.org supports caregivers has a services-by-state tool to find resources close to you. Maybe you'll find something you didn't know about before!
My first thought is getting in touch with social workers, usually through her doctor, who can line her up with services who teach her the ropes. Also, learning Braille so she can read and listening to music. A respite care or live in companion would give her help and company.
My mom resisted getting an Alexa, but now would really miss not having it. She can ask time, temperature, basic information from the Internet. Others might enjoy podcasts, music, using for Audible books or Amazon music with those services added. Also games - Mom isn't interested in those so not sure what is available, but I know there are some.
Are there activities in AL that you think she would want to participate in if she were fully sighted? Does she have other mobility issues that would prevent her from leaving her room, even if in a wheelchair? If the answers here are yes and no, respectively, then perhaps during your visits you could be her "eyes" for group activities you think she would enjoy--whether it's playing cards, watching a movie, going to an educational presentation, or taking part in a field trip. Being blind doesn't necessarily need to be the deciding factor.
Even better would be to introduce her to others in the community who might be willing to include her in activities, while helping her take part, when you're not there. This is something you could possibly ask the community's coordinators to help with. They might know of residents who would be willing to volunteer to make a new friend.
I once read an article that noted how it doesn't make sense that we view losing one's eyesight or hearing at an older age so differently than we would view losing our eyesight or hearing at a younger age. If a 20- or 30- or 40- or 50-year-old facing these conditions can adapt to accommodations (such as learning Braille or sign language, employing a guide or seeing eye dog for activities, learning to use a white cane and Alexa as others here suggest, etc.), why can't an older person, if no dementia is present? For whatever reason, we view such disabilities as insurmountable for our elderly. While that's sometimes true (where cognitive decline is involved), it's not always the case.
The other problem is that the elderly might view their loss of hearing or eyesight as insurmountable, so that they don't think it's worth it to try to adapt. If they feel as if they're "too old" to learn new ways to work around these conditions, well, that is a bigger problem that's not as easy to address.
She definitely needs a companion, as well as support for ADLs. If she is intact cognitively there is much she can learn to do with minimal supervision. 1. Get Tollhouse cookie dough, bake sheets, and let her bake cookies to share. (Best way ever to make new friends!) 2. Plan times for family and friends to call her, making sure that she has a good audio hook up to hear them and communicate. 3. Find local concerts and plays. Even high school plays can be fun! 4. There are many crafts she can do if she has the cognition and manipulative skills for them. 5. Contact a nearby high school and arrange for local teens to get community service hours at her AL. Help them plan small group activities, be readers, take seniors outside for walks, talk to them about their school and future plans, ask about what it was like for the seniors when they were their age, etc. The on-site social worker can help set this up and everyone is a winner! 6. Work with Mom's low vision specialist and find out what she can see and do. Most people have some residual sight and many activities can be modified to let them do more. 7. Arrange for visits from local people with trained support animals. 8. Arrange for shared food tasting by bringing in unusual cuisine once/week and inviting a friend or possible friend at the AL to join her. (Thai? Ethiopian? Cajun? Anything goes!) 9. Have Mom evaluated so that you know what her sensory abilities are and what other impairments she has. A good occupational therapist can do this, and can advise you about activities you may not have considered for Mom. 10. Look at online calendars and have Mom help plan activities for the AL for funny holidays, even if they don't affect her. How about something for the secretaries for Secretaries Day? Or the health staff for Nurses Day? Ground Hog Day? Make a list of everything and the planning will involve other people and keep them all busy. Put Mom in charge!
1) I feel that these 'pets' for people with dementia are very comforting. Look at this website / video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvGAL9tesM
2) See if you can find volunteers (university / college students studying in the fields of nursing, geriatrics, social worker, psychology. Any of the 'people helping' fields. They might volunteer and/or could possible do an internship visiting an elder. It is good experience for them.
3) Call LITA - Love Is The Answer - an organization that provides volunteers for those / elders in need. I do not know if they are located in your area although there may be other organizations that offer these services.
4) Anything tactile should/could help since now touch is so much more important w/o vision.
5) Get her a professional massage --And also call a massage school and see if they could post a sign on their bulletin board for a student learning to practice. It could be SO GENTLE that it is more or less 'just' touch so even if they are not far along in their massage course, it would help (I am a massage therapist and did this when I was in school).
lustrong: My mother, who was a legally blind woman (partial definition of ' legally blind' per my mother's retinologist: she had peripheral vision and differs from the designation 'completely blind') and was a candidate for a number of aids and devices through the COB (Commissioner of the Blind). This allowed my mother to LIVE ALONE in her own home many states away from me until her blood pressure plummeted and was an entirely separate issue from her low vision. The legally blind designation is often called low vision. Some of the aids were as follows: Magnifier machine. Tea cup/hot water sensor to enable user to pour hot water into a cup without spillage. Large print materials.
Your key words here are " lonesome" and " afraid"...
Be sure that she is receiving emotional and spiritual support from a chaplain or other faith leader of choice and,that the facility social worker or other professional is seeing her for emotional support. Speak with her and ask her what would be most helpful to her; engage her in decisions as this will empower her with increased self esteem and give back a bit of control to her ; as she has lost so much control over her life when losing sight.
Also speak with vision/ blind agencies in her area for recommendations and program support.
Most importantly you and her other family can be most supportive by arranging in person visits and time with her; get a schedule set up that accomodates everyone being a part of her support ( in person); your presence and familiar voices and conversations and, activity just being near together will mean the world to her.
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.
Do you think your mom would enjoy audio books or soothing music? My area has a radio station that caters to the blind. They have volunteers who read wonderful books, articles from magazines, local newspapers, etc.
Call local resources in the area that help the blind. They will have suggestions for you.
Best wishes to you and your mother.
Our local Blind Instititue had many resources to help.
Someone will be assigned to her and be able to help with training for daily personal activities and hobbies.
If her hearing is decent can you ask that she be escorted to the main lobby of the AL. She may need help making some friends and socializing.
Can you hire a part time caregiver to help with her social activities?
The best of luck to you and mom.
wooden beads and fishing line were the only materials. Color order didn’t matter - and each one was truly unique!
Audible books and tapes (second hand shop may have options) music all the time and definitely people she lovesaround for support - it must be so scary for her!
.keeping things in their proper place is also essential to avoid frustration and breakage and tripping.
senior centers and other service organizations may help -
Consider personal care / companion - human or a trained service animal- if she is otherwise well and not living with dementia.
Other senses may be heightened - smells and sounds may become more noticeable.
here are several service organizations that may help.
https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/resources-for-visually-impaired/#:~:text=American%20Foundation%20for%20the%20Blind,-The%20primary%20goal
Explore activities where she can enjoy music.
continue to do her favorite things.
Even at the movies an adaptive device is often available that describes a scene for someone who is blind.
Look for low vision groups that take outings in your area.
Even better would be to introduce her to others in the community who might be willing to include her in activities, while helping her take part, when you're not there. This is something you could possibly ask the community's coordinators to help with. They might know of residents who would be willing to volunteer to make a new friend.
I once read an article that noted how it doesn't make sense that we view losing one's eyesight or hearing at an older age so differently than we would view losing our eyesight or hearing at a younger age. If a 20- or 30- or 40- or 50-year-old facing these conditions can adapt to accommodations (such as learning Braille or sign language, employing a guide or seeing eye dog for activities, learning to use a white cane and Alexa as others here suggest, etc.), why can't an older person, if no dementia is present? For whatever reason, we view such disabilities as insurmountable for our elderly. While that's sometimes true (where cognitive decline is involved), it's not always the case.
The other problem is that the elderly might view their loss of hearing or eyesight as insurmountable, so that they don't think it's worth it to try to adapt. If they feel as if they're "too old" to learn new ways to work around these conditions, well, that is a bigger problem that's not as easy to address.
another resource is "A Place For Mom."
1. Get Tollhouse cookie dough, bake sheets, and let her bake cookies to share. (Best way ever to make new friends!)
2. Plan times for family and friends to call her, making sure that she has a good audio hook up to hear them and communicate.
3. Find local concerts and plays. Even high school plays can be fun!
4. There are many crafts she can do if she has the cognition and manipulative skills for them.
5. Contact a nearby high school and arrange for local teens to get community service hours at her AL. Help them plan small group activities, be readers, take seniors outside for walks, talk to them about their school and future plans, ask about what it was like for the seniors when they were their age, etc. The on-site social worker can help set this up and everyone is a winner!
6. Work with Mom's low vision specialist and find out what she can see and do. Most people have some residual sight and many activities can be modified to let them do more.
7. Arrange for visits from local people with trained support animals.
8. Arrange for shared food tasting by bringing in unusual cuisine once/week and inviting a friend or possible friend at the AL to join her. (Thai? Ethiopian? Cajun? Anything goes!)
9. Have Mom evaluated so that you know what her sensory abilities are and what other impairments she has. A good occupational therapist can do this, and can advise you about activities you may not have considered for Mom.
10. Look at online calendars and have Mom help plan activities for the AL for funny holidays, even if they don't affect her. How about something for the secretaries for Secretaries Day? Or the health staff for Nurses Day? Ground Hog Day? Make a list of everything and the planning will involve other people and keep them all busy. Put Mom in charge!
Look at this website / video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvGAL9tesM
2) See if you can find volunteers (university / college students studying in the fields of nursing, geriatrics, social worker, psychology. Any of the 'people helping' fields. They might volunteer and/or could possible do an internship visiting an elder. It is good experience for them.
3) Call LITA - Love Is The Answer - an organization that provides volunteers for those / elders in need. I do not know if they are located in your area although there may be other organizations that offer these services.
4) Anything tactile should/could help since now touch is so much more important w/o vision.
5) Get her a professional massage --And also call a massage school and see if they could post a sign on their bulletin board for a student learning to practice. It could be SO GENTLE that it is more or less 'just' touch so even if they are not far along in their massage course, it would help (I am a massage therapist and did this when I was in school).
Gena / Touch Matters
Magnifier machine.
Tea cup/hot water sensor to enable user to pour hot water into a cup without spillage.
Large print materials.
" lonesome" and " afraid"...
Be sure that she is receiving emotional and spiritual support from a chaplain or other faith leader of choice and,that the facility social worker or other professional is seeing her for emotional support. Speak with her and ask her what would be most helpful to her; engage her in decisions as this will empower her with increased self esteem and give back a bit of control to her ; as she has lost so much control over her life when losing sight.
Also speak with vision/ blind agencies in her area for recommendations and program support.
Most importantly you and her other family can be most supportive by arranging in person visits and time with her; get a schedule set up that accomodates everyone being a part of her support ( in person); your presence and familiar voices and conversations and, activity just being near together will mean the world to her.