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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?
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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.
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Is she under the care of an Endocrinologist or just her GP? How well does she manage her diabetes? Are you talking about three days in a row? Is she on shots or pills?
If she is not on insulin injections, and her diabetes is well regulated without big swings in her numbers, and it is not three days in a row, I would be asking her doctor or dietitian if it needs to be checked as often.
If her blood sugars fluctuate wildly and variably throughout the day, and she is on injections then of course regular testing is needed.
If you have to hire someone, are they going to come in 3+ times a day? That could be challenging.
Although we often think of nurses when we think about medications and perhaps finger jabs, you maybe able to find a lab tech who is willing to help out on a temporary basis.
If I were to hire someone to help me, I would look for a companion to assist me. I would test at least three times for the meal. Once before I ate to get a base for the meal to be able to measure the spikes, if any for that meal. Second time at one hour after the meal to tell me how much that meal spiked or raised my numbers. Third time at two hours after the meal to see if I am returning to somewhere near what I was before the meal. If random test are used it means very little since carbs process at different rates. Some take more than two hours to process. A random test four hours after a visit to 31 flavors would not tell me whether I could eat a certain food or not. Many meds will affect the numbers as well. Steroids being among the worst. Many people will have higher numbers after exercise, while other will show lower numbers. BG testing is used by many of us managing our diabetes to learn other things that may be going on with or bodies. Like a cold, minor infections, or pain. I would still hire a companion for at lest four hours three times a week at the minimum. The companions I hire are allowed to assist with meds but not to administer meds. Like reminders to take meds at prescribed times. And report to who ever did the hiring. But check out the companion service very well before hiring. Some of the ones I have hired were CNA's and knew a little more than just a warm body to watch DW.
Here's another option. Consider a continuous glucose monitor. Depending on the model, It's something that you stick to her every few days or once a week and it will monitor her blood sugar by itself. Some will automatically issue an alert if there's a problem. All will allow you to review days worth of data later. Is the goal for an immediate response or simply to monitor?
There are issues.
1) It's tech. How comfortable are you and your mom with tech? 2) You mom needs to leave the sensor alone. Will she rip it off? 3) It maybe costly. Insurance, including medicare, can cover it. But medicare is picky about when it will.
It's something to consider. As the price comes down then I see these replacing the pin pricks for most people. It also allows a doctor to remotely evaluate your sugar levels without the need to come into the office. It's the future. The future is here.
Hearing you request 3x week leads me to believe your mother is not on any injectibles, just pills maybe?
The CGM is a great option but yes, it’s tech. The device vibrates then alarms when the BS is low or/high. & needs attention to clear the alarms. Plus with a CGM the person still has to do a finger stick each day to make sure the calibration reading is correct. As far as hiring someone to come in to check, the person should have experience in interpreting bloodsugar results and know what to do when BS drops.
She can try a Freestyle Libre monitor where it’ s like scanning a barcode (the sensor) for a result. All these CGM’s have alarms as well.
Having elderly people on insulin injections without supervision can be unsafe and I am sure you are recognizing this. If she is on sliding scale Humalog this insulin acts quickly and she must eat. This is a hard situation for you.
You can also call a home health care agency. Many of them staff medical assistants who are able to monitor blood sugar readings. Make sure you leave written parameters for the MA, such as (BS less than 60, notify MD or, if she is on insulin - hold for BS less than 60 or whatever her orders are). Medical assistants can give scheduled insulin, but in many states cannot give sliding scale.
Ask her doctor if its possible to get Homecare in. A Homecare that has the ability to bill Medicare. I worked for a non-profit Visiting Nurse Assoc that did this very thing. Stuff Medicare or insurance wouldn't cover.
Since her stroke, you say that she can't test her own blood sugar. Is she limited physically and mentally after the stroke? I would take proper precautions until she is able to check it herself. It's risky to be alone and not able to check.
Is she Type II or I? Is she taking insulin and/or pills? Her having a low would be particularly concerning. It could render her helpless and unable to summon help. I'd try to arrange for someone to be with her until she is able to handle this for herself. I'm a Type I and being able to check your blood sugar, at a moment's notice is imperative as a diabetic.
I use a Continuous Glucose Monitor, but, would really research this before investing. It has its advantages, but, it's a BIG JOB. It requires a lot of monitoring, plus calibrations, though, I hear there is a new one that doesn't require much calibration, however, it's still complicated and you have to check your BS to confirm the CGM. I'd seriously discuss this with her doctor and a certified diabetes educator, if you are interested, but, I'd talk with other seniors who use it, before, I would make that investment.
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 she is not on insulin injections, and her diabetes is well regulated without big swings in her numbers, and it is not three days in a row, I would be asking her doctor or dietitian if it needs to be checked as often.
If her blood sugars fluctuate wildly and variably throughout the day, and she is on injections then of course regular testing is needed.
If you have to hire someone, are they going to come in 3+ times a day? That could be challenging.
Although we often think of nurses when we think about medications and perhaps finger jabs, you maybe able to find a lab tech who is willing to help out on a temporary basis.
I would test at least three times for the meal. Once before I ate to get a base for the meal to be able to measure the spikes, if any for that meal.
Second time at one hour after the meal to tell me how much that meal spiked or raised my numbers.
Third time at two hours after the meal to see if I am returning to somewhere near what I was before the meal.
If random test are used it means very little since carbs process at different rates. Some take more than two hours to process.
A random test four hours after a visit to 31 flavors would not tell me whether I could eat a certain food or not.
Many meds will affect the numbers as well. Steroids being among the worst.
Many people will have higher numbers after exercise, while other will show lower numbers.
BG testing is used by many of us managing our diabetes to learn other things that may be going on with or bodies. Like a cold, minor infections, or pain.
I would still hire a companion for at lest four hours three times a week at the minimum. The companions I hire are allowed to assist with meds but not to administer meds. Like reminders to take meds at prescribed times. And report to who ever did the hiring.
But check out the companion service very well before hiring. Some of the ones I have hired were CNA's and knew a little more than just a warm body to watch DW.
There are issues.
1) It's tech. How comfortable are you and your mom with tech?
2) You mom needs to leave the sensor alone. Will she rip it off?
3) It maybe costly. Insurance, including medicare, can cover it. But medicare is picky about when it will.
It's something to consider. As the price comes down then I see these replacing the pin pricks for most people. It also allows a doctor to remotely evaluate your sugar levels without the need to come into the office. It's the future. The future is here.
The CGM is a great option but yes, it’s tech. The device vibrates then alarms when the BS is low or/high. & needs attention to clear the alarms.
Plus with a CGM the person still has to do a finger stick each day to make sure the calibration reading is correct.
As far as hiring someone to come in to check, the person should have experience in interpreting bloodsugar results and know what to do when BS drops.
She can try a Freestyle Libre monitor where it’ s like scanning a barcode (the sensor) for a result. All these CGM’s have alarms as well.
Having elderly people on insulin injections without supervision can be unsafe and I am sure you are recognizing this. If she is on sliding scale Humalog this insulin acts quickly and she must eat. This is a hard situation for you.
Good luck!
Is she Type II or I? Is she taking insulin and/or pills? Her having a low would be particularly concerning. It could render her helpless and unable to summon help. I'd try to arrange for someone to be with her until she is able to handle this for herself. I'm a Type I and being able to check your blood sugar, at a moment's notice is imperative as a diabetic.
I use a Continuous Glucose Monitor, but, would really research this before investing. It has its advantages, but, it's a BIG JOB. It requires a lot of monitoring, plus calibrations, though, I hear there is a new one that doesn't require much calibration, however, it's still complicated and you have to check your BS to confirm the CGM. I'd seriously discuss this with her doctor and a certified diabetes educator, if you are interested, but, I'd talk with other seniors who use it, before, I would make that investment.