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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.
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My dh aunt is 95. She has been constipated all her life and was addicted to laxatives. After a couple of ER visits where I learned she was impacted (shows up on X-rays) I took her to a gastroenterologist. I took her latest labs and her meds. She was on too much thyroid medication. He referred her to a gerontologist for her primary and made a suggestion to give her a daily dosage of Polyethylene Glycol 3350 mixed in liquid of choice. Her insurance covered this. It is basically the same as Miralax. It was much less expensive with a prescription. He advised she take this daily. He said do not take a stool softener with it as it also works as a stool softener. The normal dosage has worked for her for many years. Having a BM was a constant struggle before this. I mentioned the thyroid because other health issues can contribute to the problem. Sometimes if it has gone too long and there is an impaction, a fleet enema might be needed. It may take a few days to clear even after the enema. One other time I suspected an impaction and took her to an urgent care. They were able to do the X-ray and we saw that wasn’t the problem. I mention this because one can have a bowel movement and still be impacted. In aunts case it was so bad that her breath smelled like poop, she was nauseated and didn’t want to get out of bed. The daily habit is what got her straight after years and years of being constipated. I also encourage her to drink plenty of water by providing her with the small bottles. She can handle those easily as long as I leave the tops loosened. There are many products sold for this issue but I took her to a top gastro who had a great deal of experience with elders. I think it may have been one of the best things I have been able to help her with as far as making a real difference in her life.
My mom was a lifelong laxative user and there's nothing wrong with infrequent dosing when you need a little help. Regularly scheduled PEG 3350 (Miralax) was a miracle product for us.
My 96 yo MIL is obsessed with pooping! If she doesn't poop when she thinks she should, oh boy. She has the staff at her nursing home working OT to get her to poop!
So I would find out what is actually going on. Get her to keep or help her keep a log for a week or so to see what is happening.
Check her meds to see if one or more of them could be slowing her system down.
Is she getting enough fiber? I give my mom organic psyllium husk daily. Chia seed in her yogurt a couple times a week. She's not consistent enough with fruit and veggies so gotta have something that is regular to help things along.
Another thing I give her is Calm magnesium gummies before bed. Magnesium can help with sleep, preventing leg cramps and help with pooping (just be careful not to give too much!).
Codeine and other opioids cause constipation for many people. My interior has always been a bit super-active, so codeine has actually improved things for me. Talk to the doctor about the medications, and make sure that you list all the ‘herbal/ vitamin’ type things that GM is taking.
Also check that there really is a problem. My DH ‘goes’ once every three days, I ‘go’ at least three times a day! Both are ‘normal’, just the opposite ends of the spectrum. Check what has been 'normal' for GM over the years.
A couple of things that helped my mother were drinking prune juice daily, and taking a table spoon of fiber powder which I mixed with either water or juice. Occasionally, she had to take a laxative pill to get things moving.
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.
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 mixed in liquid of choice. Her insurance covered this. It is basically the same as Miralax. It was much less expensive with a prescription.
He advised she take this daily. He said do not take a stool softener with it as it also works as a stool softener. The normal dosage has worked for her for many years. Having a BM was a constant struggle before this.
I mentioned the thyroid because other health issues can contribute to the problem.
Sometimes if it has gone too long and there is an impaction, a fleet enema might be needed. It may take a few days to clear even after the enema. One other time I suspected an impaction and took her to an urgent care. They were able to do the X-ray and we saw that wasn’t the problem. I mention this because one can have a bowel movement and still be impacted. In aunts case it was so bad that her breath smelled like poop, she was nauseated and didn’t want to get out of bed.
The daily habit is what got her straight after years and years of being constipated.
I also encourage her to drink plenty of water by providing her with the small bottles. She can handle those easily as long as I leave the tops loosened.
There are many products sold for this issue but I took her to a top gastro who had a great deal of experience with elders. I think it may have been one of the best things I have been able to help her with as far as making a real difference in her life.
So I would find out what is actually going on. Get her to keep or help her keep a log for a week or so to see what is happening.
Check her meds to see if one or more of them could be slowing her system down.
Is she getting enough fiber? I give my mom organic psyllium husk daily. Chia seed in her yogurt a couple times a week. She's not consistent enough with fruit and veggies so gotta have something that is regular to help things along.
Another thing I give her is Calm magnesium gummies before bed. Magnesium can help with sleep, preventing leg cramps and help with pooping (just be careful not to give too much!).
Good luck.
Also check that there really is a problem. My DH ‘goes’ once every three days, I ‘go’ at least three times a day! Both are ‘normal’, just the opposite ends of the spectrum. Check what has been 'normal' for GM over the years.