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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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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:
Rather than asking "do you want to wash?" Lead them (one at a time) to the bathroom to 'freshen up'.
Once there, have a stool to sit near the sink. Prompt & guide washing face & hands with a cloth. No forcing. If ok, after face & hands you sneak in pits & bits.
Can introduce changing clothes to routine. "Well since your shirt is off, may as well wash your back 😉" Fill the sink, wet wash top half of body, dry dress. Then lower. Aka 'bird bath'.
Keeping warm is often a priority. Focus on the soft towel, then the positive of being nice & fresh.
The trick is to get into the bathroom. Once there, they may feel ok to continue. Even the very stubborn sometimes give in 'oh I suppose I may as well while I'm here'. Oh yes you say, that's a good idea Mom/Dad/Sir/Madam.
Or if they can take a joke, threaten to drag them off to the zoo to be hosed down with the animals. Coz ya smell like a bear Pops 😁
Have you considered the no rinse products? They're available for hair and body. I learned about them when my father was in rehab, and when I was in the hospital for a few days. I keep them handy at home just in case.
They're not immersion products; they're applied like any lotion and don't even have to be washed off.
JoAnn raises a critical issue: grab bars and safety. Getting in and out of a shower tub can be a hazard. So are standing showers.
Case on point: someone I know who's a mountain climber, and very skilled, slipped in a shower and ended up in the hospital. It ended his mountain climbing career.
Showers and tubs can be dangerous places.
If you're not comfortable with no rinse products, consider another option, one which I can't take credit for b/c another poster suggested it years ago. Make the occasion something special. Play their favorite music, have relaxing talks, or something that makes them feel less anxious. Either before or afterwards (probably the latter is better), have some type of celebration by either taking them somewhere special, giving them flowers, a special food, or small gift.
The goal is to focus on the rewards, to help them get past the process.
MJ also makes a good point about now showering or wetting their head. In my experience, for me, cold hair leads to a cold head, and that shivering is unsettling.
Yes, they don't need a shower more than 3x a week. The aides should be provided with nice big wipes, I used Huggies because they were big and thick. They use them when toileting to make sure they are clean.
Most people with Dementia do not like showers. I never had that problem with Mom. Her shower had a bar to hang onto going in and out of the shower stall. One on the wall. I got her a shower bench with no back, makes it easier to wash their backs. I made sure the bathroom was toasty warm. Cold bothers them. Of course a handheld shower head. I would first wash her down with water and then quickly wash her. Mom never minded her hair washed just complain the soap hurt her eyes. So we switched to baby shampoo. In between baths I would wash under her arms before I put deodorant on her. She likes to wash her face with clear water.
My daughter worked in Rehab/NHs for 20 yrs. She claims you make them think they made the decision. "Mrs. Jones, wouldn't you feel so much better if you had a nice shower and got all nice and clean and smelly good and clean clothes to put on? Mrs Jones then agrees because she has been given a choice not "told" what to do.
If you have a tub, there are shower chairs that go over the tub and you slide the seat back and forth. There are also grab bars that attach to the side of the tub. If no bars in the tub, you can buy suction cup ones that I had no problem with but you do need a smooth surface. My surround is made of a plastic with big tile look squares. I was able to place each end of the bar into a square and lock on. I found with my nephew it did not work on a painted wall or the smaller tiles.
Use a shower chair and don't put water on their head. My mother lost her mind if I tried to give her a normal, shower, but once she was in a nursing home, they had little trouble oecaure she was sitting on a shower chair (no fear of falling anymore), and they used a special hat thing to keep water from running over her face when they washed her hair. She thought she was drowning when water ran on her face.
Make sure the water is warm enough and use a hand-held sprayer. Unless your having to clean up incontinence messes, they only need a shower a couple of times a week, so don't nag them for daily showers.
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.
Once there, have a stool to sit near the sink. Prompt & guide washing face & hands with a cloth. No forcing. If ok, after face & hands you sneak in pits & bits.
Can introduce changing clothes to routine. "Well since your shirt is off, may as well wash your back 😉" Fill the sink, wet wash top half of body, dry dress. Then lower. Aka 'bird bath'.
Keeping warm is often a priority. Focus on the soft towel, then the positive of being nice & fresh.
The trick is to get into the bathroom. Once there, they may feel ok to continue. Even the very stubborn sometimes give in 'oh I suppose I may as well while I'm here'. Oh yes you say, that's a good idea Mom/Dad/Sir/Madam.
Or if they can take a joke, threaten to drag them off to the zoo to be hosed down with the animals. Coz ya smell like a bear Pops 😁
They're not immersion products; they're applied like any lotion and don't even have to be washed off.
JoAnn raises a critical issue: grab bars and safety. Getting in and out of a shower tub can be a hazard. So are standing showers.
Case on point: someone I know who's a mountain climber, and very skilled, slipped in a shower and ended up in the hospital. It ended his mountain climbing career.
Showers and tubs can be dangerous places.
If you're not comfortable with no rinse products, consider another option, one which I can't take credit for b/c another poster suggested it years ago. Make the occasion something special. Play their favorite music, have relaxing talks, or something that makes them feel less anxious. Either before or afterwards (probably the latter is better), have some type of celebration by either taking them somewhere special, giving them flowers, a special food, or small gift.
The goal is to focus on the rewards, to help them get past the process.
MJ also makes a good point about now showering or wetting their head. In my experience, for me, cold hair leads to a cold head, and that shivering is unsettling.
Good luck with whatever you try.
Most people with Dementia do not like showers. I never had that problem with Mom. Her shower had a bar to hang onto going in and out of the shower stall. One on the wall. I got her a shower bench with no back, makes it easier to wash their backs. I made sure the bathroom was toasty warm. Cold bothers them. Of course a handheld shower head. I would first wash her down with water and then quickly wash her. Mom never minded her hair washed just complain the soap hurt her eyes. So we switched to baby shampoo. In between baths I would wash under her arms before I put deodorant on her. She likes to wash her face with clear water.
My daughter worked in Rehab/NHs for 20 yrs. She claims you make them think they made the decision. "Mrs. Jones, wouldn't you feel so much better if you had a nice shower and got all nice and clean and smelly good and clean clothes to put on? Mrs Jones then agrees because she has been given a choice not "told" what to do.
If you have a tub, there are shower chairs that go over the tub and you slide the seat back and forth. There are also grab bars that attach to the side of the tub. If no bars in the tub, you can buy suction cup ones that I had no problem with but you do need a smooth surface. My surround is made of a plastic with big tile look squares. I was able to place each end of the bar into a square and lock on. I found with my nephew it did not work on a painted wall or the smaller tiles.
Make sure the water is warm enough and use a hand-held sprayer. Unless your having to clean up incontinence messes, they only need a shower a couple of times a week, so don't nag them for daily showers.