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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.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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If he has a walker, see if you can switch the wheels from "outside" of the walker's legs to "inside" of the legs. I had to do that with my mom's walker, and then she was able to get it through the doorway.
If you look at the wheels, there might be a little button, if you push that in, you should be able to remove the wheels, then find the corresponding holes along the inside of the legs, and line up the wheels with that.
How much too small? It may be possible to widen the doorway, that may not cost as much as you think. If it is only a couple of inches you could remove the door and hang a curtain, buy offset hinges, or hang a barn style sliding door. Depending in his ability and your bathroom layout you may be able to strategically place grab bars and railings that would allow him to leave the walker outside the door. Or as funkygrandma has suggested, a portable commode at bedside or wherever convenient may be the best option - buy as sturdy a one as you can find and afford. And incontinence underwear is probably a good idea in case he can't get there in time.
You can use what is called a BEDSIDE COMMODE. They work great. If you cannot transfer him to that commode, and he can stand, then try to get what is called a "sit/stand" device. If he cannot stand... maybe his legs are too weak to stand then, you must keep him in bed and use a urinal for urine and bedpan for his bowel movements or.. put on diapers if bedbound. If he still doing some walking, can use pull ups but once he cannot walk, use those diapers... the kind that close using the tabs... like a baby diaper. Hope this helps you. GOD bless.
Probably time to start using a bedside commode then, along with a plastic urinal that you or he can hold on to while peeing at night. That is unless you want to pay a contractor to come out and widen the doorways. That can be quite costly. Best wishes.
I agree with advice below about a bedside commode and urinals. Safe and only requires a brief transfer. This site told me about commode liners and what a great help they are keeping the commode bucket(plastic) from absorbing odors. Much easier cleanup and you can buy from Walmart or Amazon.
Removing the door and hinges can be a fairly simple do it yourself job.
If you need more room, you can remove the door frame to get a couple more inches. Using just the rough opening will be uglier and I would probably hire someone to do it for me, but it could be an ok idea if you are likely to put in a new door later.
There are several size walkers available. My mother in laws walker won’t fit thru the door either. I was at a friends home, same model home as mine. She just had knee replacement she has a walker that looks just like my mother in laws but is actually narrower. I will be getting it for my mother in law.
My Mom had to turn sideways to get into her bathroom. The toilet was right behind her when she finally got in. I couldn't widen the door because of the construction of my house.
A commode is a good idea. Maybe a screen to make it more private.
i use a Hoyer Lift with a sling that has an opening for her to go to the bathroom. I put disposable chucks and thick washable pads underneath her (on top of her hospital bed). It sounds weird but works really well and we’ve got the system down pat. This way she doesn’t have to soil herself in a diaper, and she is seated comfortably the same way she would be on a toilet.
I'm not sure where I would start with the looking, but have heard this come up before. Airlines have aisle chairs that are manufactured for the narrow aisles and maybe there are used ones? Of course the other options are the commode chair that can be placed in any room, or finding someone to do the modest home modification to enlarge that doorway...which will probably necessitate a new door or modification if possible of the old so that it shuts, or a curtain at least for the time being. I'd check with your local city hall for referrals, the building dept etc. or posting on Next Door what you are in need of.
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.
If you look at the wheels, there might be a little button, if you push that in, you should be able to remove the wheels, then find the corresponding holes along the inside of the legs, and line up the wheels with that.
It may be possible to widen the doorway, that may not cost as much as you think.
If it is only a couple of inches you could remove the door and hang a curtain, buy offset hinges, or hang a barn style sliding door.
Depending in his ability and your bathroom layout you may be able to strategically place grab bars and railings that would allow him to leave the walker outside the door.
Or as funkygrandma has suggested, a portable commode at bedside or wherever convenient may be the best option - buy as sturdy a one as you can find and afford.
And incontinence underwear is probably a good idea in case he can't get there in time.
If you need more room, you can remove the door frame to get a couple more inches. Using just the rough opening will be uglier and I would probably hire someone to do it for me, but it could be an ok idea if you are likely to put in a new door later.
A commode is a good idea. Maybe a screen to make it more private.
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