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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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My mom lost all of her teeth, and half her tongue is actually a chunk of thigh muscle, due to cancer years ago. I puree all her food, the key is to pick things that arent gross pureed. Example: dont puree a chicken breast. Rip it up into some soup or applesauce. Look into summer soups too, like cucumber or beet. I will even sometimes puree a can of soup if I I dont want to cook. If your elderly person doesn't have sugar issues, any meal replacement will do. We use ensure sometimes. It helps keep my mom hydrated as well. If there's something they really like, try to figure a way to make it. A pureed pork chop over mashed potatoes with gravy with a side of mashed peas makes my mom burp like a linebacker! *pro tip: split one meal into two smaller ones about a half hour apart. I found that stopped almost all of the swallowing air/gas pains/dramatic gasping/digestion problems. Usually she'll burp, use the bathroom or both or even- on a good day- drink some water between servings.
My 93-year-old father has a swallowing issue right now. We went to have him evaluated by a speech therapist yesterday. The speech therapist recommended that he have all his foods puréed. So everything he would eat would be put into a blender and he would drink it. He chose not to do this but he has teeth. Maybe this will help your mom. Best of luck.
Just to clarify - a pureed diet shouldn't mean liquefying everything, the food should be more like the consistency of mashed potatoes: smooth and moist. And there is no need to stir everything together into a grey paste either (which was something that I saw the aids do at my mom's nursing home and it drove me bonkers!!), each part of the meal can and should be pureed separately.
My mom like the soy drink I got her at Wal-Mart, but it was quite sweet. (She liked sugar). I used to drink Vega One, but it has to much fiber for elderly. (Yikes). Whatever you do, watch out for too much fiber! My mom had dairy issues & IBS, so the soy drink worked best for her.
So I have been giving my mother baby cereal in her ensure for the added vitamins and minerals. She suddenly would forget or avoid taking the pill form. It has worked wonders not only for less battles in the am and pm but it keeps her fuller during the night and she has not been roaming as much. She is 88 and has anxiety and dementia but no other physical problems. I can also up it with a banana or some oatmeal when she does not eat a full dinner or eats an early dinner. It is also nice to have on hand in the frig for a quick lunch.
For a hot meal, you can add pea protein powder or brown rice protein powder to soup to thicken or blend all the soup together if they can not swallow whole food. It adds a lot of protein and will make them feel fuller.
Good luck everyone. It is a rough road as caregivers!
Have you heard of milk kefir? While you can now purchase it in most grocery stores it's not cheap or as beneficial as what you can make at home but certainly still good for you and an option. I make it myself and once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy and full of pro-biotics, enzymes and nutrients that are more readily absorbable/"bioavailable". It's made with live cultures called "grains" and milk and depending on your preference and method it can have the consistency of yogurt or buttermilk. Lot's of people like it just plain but I prefer adding fruit, fresh and or frozen blending it all up in my Magic Bullet and making a shake but you really could add almost anything to the shake. The homemade kefir by it's self though has a great balance of nutrients and healthy fat when you use whole milk. The grains (cultures) feed on the milk sugars converting them to probiotics etc so most people who are lactose intolerant can apparently drink the converted kefir. If you are interested in more info or in some grains feel free to message me. I always have more grains than I need because they multiply as you use them so I'm happy to share.
You could have a registered dietitian help you out with this. If there is a swallowing issue, a speech therapist is in charge of handling that. I like a product called Phood. It has protein, fat and carb. It's vegan. 200 calories so I use it for a quick meal so I don't over eat. Alternately if you use frozen fruit, an oil such as coconut or olive and protein powder, you can make a cheaper balanced meal. Throw in a small amount of not too fiberous green veg if you like. With a cancer patient in the last few months of his life, I made shakes with frozen fruit, protein powder and heavy cream (not lactose intolerant) just to keep his weight up.
My sister loves Kate Farms Komplete meal replacement shakes, and ENU Vanilla Cream Shakes for Weight Gain. She can't eat solid food and has lost so much weight (hence the shakes for weight gain). She hates shakes with a lot of sugar...claims they make her sick.
Sweet is one of the last tastes to leave as your taste buds "die off" as they do when you age. That is why the sweetest is usually the most popular with elderly - it actually tastes like something to them. She is 98, let her eat or drink what she likes. My Grandmother did not like chocolate or sweets, yet for the last 2 years of her 96years she had Chocolate milkshakes everyday.
Your first step should be to meet with a nutritionist to see what type of blended foods can be had. There are many options. Speak with that specialist. That is their business.
LABRADA HIGH PROTEIN MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKE paks with 20-30 grams of protein. Takes people out of a diabetic status over time and curbs the appetite like crazy. No wolfing during the day! Add PERFECT FOOD by Garden of Life and yay, all will work out!
Try "Real Food Blends". They are designed for tube feeding, but mixed with a liquid they are drinkable, and very good! And they are real food. My brother uses them and I have tasted one. You can buy them online at realfoodblends.com
Atkins french vanilla/or chocolate it has 1g of sugar and 20g of protein. I buy it for my 94 year old Dad that is trying to put on weight which he put on 11 pounds since Janusry and he is a diabetic. I put it in his coffee instead of his creamer.
Be careful with 30 grams of protein in one drink. The kidneys would have to work too hard with 3 of those per day. Also not enough calories. Your mom is 98, let her taste preferences guide you in what to drink. If she likes the store ones because they are sweet - so what- she’s 98! God bless her and you
Get a consult with a nutritionist and learn how to make your own.
Get a whey protein powder for breakfast smoothies and add berries, which are lower in sugar. Half a banana may also be acceptable.
Whole foods can all be pureed. That means that when you make a healthy meal, that meal can be pureed by adding some liquid such as low-sodium broth.
The amount of money you will save by not having to pay for processed foods and packaged foods is astounding.
Vitamix blenders are the best but also ridiculously expensive. Even the refurbished ones are outrageous amounts of money. Get a blender that's in the $40-$50 range and it will do the job taking only an additional 45-seconds to get the consistency you want. Blenders work best for meat protein. Hand blenders work great for vegetables and soup.
I bought a NutriBullet for cheap on Amazon. Those drinks you buy at the store are very bad for you. Even instant breakfast we use to drink as kids. Those caused my husband to over dose on his magnesium it was way to high. Mixing your own and blended meals are far better then buying these things with all the preservatives in them. Buy organic if you can. NutriBullet mixers aren’t that expensive you will be paid back in a matter of weeks if you make your own anyway.
I agree that the Pure Protien Individual shakes, available at Costco are good. They are tasty chilled or room temperature. My mom loved them. I felt it was a good way for her to get protein.
There is a thickening agent that you can use to thicken regular foods like soups and juices. Check with a local pharmacy. I used one that came in small packets. They could be added to anything to make it thicker and easier to swallow.
I'm using Premier High Protein Shakes and I like them. 30 grams protein with only 1 gram sugar, 1 gram fiber and 1 carb. Right now it's cheapest at Sam's Club and comes in many flavors. I like the Cookies & Cream and the Banana & Cream. But also available in Chocolate, Vanilla and Caramel. They're bringing back Peaches & Cream but I haven't found it yet. 160 calories per shake and I use 2 a day myself.
Raylin my dh loves those. I started giving them to aunt (92) but I was concerned about amount of protein for older kidneys. I was told 50 g a day was appropriate. Also like you said only 160 calories. Unless someone needs to lose weight (dh does) these are a low caloric meal replacement. But a banana could be added. Coconut oil could be added, nuts and seeds could be ground in a coffee grinder and added to boost the overall fat and calories. Healthy fats are very important for all ages. He loves the banana the most. Hasn’t tried all of them. They had them on sale a couple of mo ago at Sams and they were a great bargain. He stocked up. They have them at Costco too but the Sams price on this product was better.
I lost my teeth to Sjogren’s a few years ago, a condition that makes your entire body severely dry and, also, until a few years ago I had an esophageal stenosis so severe that my esophagus was measured to be no wider than the inside of a coffee stir. I choked on food and water constantly. I survived on whey powder smoothies. You can vary the ingredients for the sake of nutrition and the amount of liquid or ice depending on her needs (for instance, if she has raynaud’s, she might not want ice at all). You can get powdered vitamin supplements as well or grind your own vitamins with a mortar and pestle. What’s nice about smoothies is that you can vary them according to what makes your mom happiest and still have the convenience of prepackaged meal replacements by just keeping your ingredients in the freezer ready to use. If you do go the smoothie route, you’ll want a blender that can create “snow” from ice. A Ninja blender does a great job.
I hope you and your mom find something satisfying and helpful to you both.
Orgain Protein Shakes. Buy online or at health food store. Expensive yet so worth it, and truly nutritious. Vanilla bean or chocolate fudge. My dad loves them!
Look on Amazon, I get them so much cheaper there. The chocolate is usually very well priced, vanilla fluctuates so I watch it and pounce when the price is down!
I’ve been buying Orgain shakes for a few years, check out on Amazon and see if the calorie/nutrition makeup looks like what you need. I hate all the artificial things listed on Ensure and Boost. Atkins shakes are pretty good too, and you can get them anywhere. But I also like the idea of making your own things when you can like lulu says! Good luck.
Unless she is diabetic or has a food intolerance I don't see a need to avoid sugar, fat, or anything else that might be a dietary taboo for someone who isn't 98. Adding whey powder to smoothies is easy, I like to add a little oatmeal for fiber too. Are you sure it is her teeth causing trouble and not a swallowing problem?
Core Power is very tasty and has a lot of protein and vitamins. It's not super high in calories, but at least its nutrition. I have difficulty w my appetite and I drink it often instead of eating. You can order on Amazon for about $30 for case of 12. The chocolate and coffee are best flavors. Vanilla is not bad either, I cant speak as to the strawberry or banana. Good luck to you.
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.
*pro tip: split one meal into two smaller ones about a half hour apart. I found that stopped almost all of the swallowing air/gas pains/dramatic gasping/digestion problems. Usually she'll burp, use the bathroom or both or even- on a good day- drink some water between servings.
For a hot meal, you can add pea protein powder or brown rice protein powder to soup to thicken or blend all the soup together if they can not swallow whole food. It adds a lot of protein and will make them feel fuller.
Good luck everyone. It is a rough road as caregivers!
Dr Coppertino
Get a whey protein powder for breakfast smoothies and add berries, which are lower in sugar. Half a banana may also be acceptable.
Whole foods can all be pureed. That means that when you make a healthy meal, that meal can be pureed by adding some liquid such as low-sodium broth.
The amount of money you will save by not having to pay for processed foods and packaged foods is astounding.
Vitamix blenders are the best but also ridiculously expensive. Even the refurbished ones are outrageous amounts of money. Get a blender that's in the $40-$50 range and it will do the job taking only an additional 45-seconds to get the consistency you want. Blenders work best for meat protein. Hand blenders work great for vegetables and soup.
my dh loves those. I started giving them to aunt (92) but I was concerned about amount of protein for older kidneys. I was told 50 g a day was appropriate. Also like you said only 160 calories. Unless someone needs to lose weight (dh does) these are a low caloric meal replacement. But a banana could be added. Coconut oil could be added, nuts and seeds could be ground in a coffee grinder and added to boost the overall fat and calories. Healthy fats are very important for all ages.
He loves the banana the most. Hasn’t tried all of them. They had them on sale a couple of mo ago at Sams and they were a great bargain. He stocked up. They have them at Costco too but the Sams price on this product was better.
I hope you and your mom find something satisfying and helpful to you both.
Take care,
b
Expensive yet so worth it, and truly nutritious.
Vanilla bean or chocolate fudge.
My dad loves them!
Are you sure it is her teeth causing trouble and not a swallowing problem?