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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.
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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.
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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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When my Husband was on Hospice they had me use Atropine. They were eye drops that I would give him orally when he needed them. They dried up the secretions. If there is a lot of phlegm you can try turning him on his side and tip his head so the fluid runs out. If the phlegm is in the front part of the mouth you can try using a swab (never your finger) and wiping the tongue and cheeks. But do not use the swab at the back of the throat as that can cause him to gag and possibly vomit. Discuss this with the Hospice Nurse they will probably prescribe something but it is also another sign of decline that they would want to document.
My mother is in the hospital with end of life care. She had a stroke, fell on the floor till I found her on her stomach and also has pneumonia in one lung.
When she got to the hospital she had a lot of phlegm. They suctioned it out of her mouth like at the dentist when they suck out the water during a cleaning.
(Note: Since I started eating red meat [but without bread, potatoes, or other starches], I have had much less mucus. So I question the caution against red meat. But this is the recommendation provided by LungInstitute.com.)
wow..........I saved your list.......I guess I will have to stop eating (haha), I always have some kind of phlegm in my system and often wondered if it was caused by some kind of food(s)...........thanks
Make sure he is in a good position (sides are best) - turn every 2 hours as he can tolerate - so his airway stays more open. Suction devices can help get the phlegm out. Sometimes, using a moist glycerin swab can get it out - but don't poke down the throat to get what you can't see. If he can drink, more fluids will make the phlegm thinner and easier for him to cough up.
wow not a lot of info here, but my father always had stuff in his throat as I grew up (I also inherited the sinus issues of stuff), can he swallow? can he take pills? IS he chocking on the stuff? surely they should be able to find out what he can take. maybe allegra would help if it is more like allergies. wishing you luck.
My FIL was on Guaifenesin for years--but it was a prescription strength, and it did really help with his deep, deep cough that just was always 'stuck'.
However, if your dad is actively gagging, that's another matter.
Suctioning will work better, and moving him from side to the other side. However, that is a learned skill and pretty gross to do, if you don't have the stomach for the yuckier side of CG.
I agree that this is something Hospice should be handling.
BarbBrooklyn's suggestion of scopolamine patches reminded me that my father dealt with this during the last week of his life. Someone (I think it was the doctor who specialized in treating athletes - and how she got involved was one of the issues that she had to address) scripted for a scopolamine patch.
When I researched it, I found there's a potential interaction with glaucoma. My father had low tension glaucoma so I asked a staff nurse to hold off until I got clearance from his ophthalmologist, who was out of town, but the very, very competent and high performing staff got another ophthalmologist to return my call.
He had analyzed the situation and said that he didn't see a potential interaction or conflict. So I allowed the patch to be applied.
In retrospect, I don't think my father had as much mucus production once the patch was used, but this also was 2.5 years ago and my memories of hospice are fading.
Please call his doctor first but Mucinex can be very helpful with thinning the mucus and allowing it to drain more easily. It can be taken every 12 hours as needed. I am a nurse and my mom has this issue too, Mucinex 1 12 hour tab daily has been very helpful for her. Good luck!
Ffirst off the Hospice RN,Lvn should Recognize he needs meds to help that issue. The Hospice nurses prescribed my mom..I know it sounds weird but its actually an eye drop(the name escapes me though) But it definitely helped .
He probably needs to be suctioned. You can be taught how to do this at home. Basically, it's like a long straw attached to an air pump that sucks the mucus out of a person's throat.
In the meantime, avoid allowing him to lie flat on his back - because that will exacerbate the issue.
Benzonatate. If the phlegm is causing constant coughing, this medication relaxes the esophagus. Works wonders for my mother's dry cough. Perhaps it is worth a try for a phlegmy cough.
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 there is a lot of phlegm you can try turning him on his side and tip his head so the fluid runs out.
If the phlegm is in the front part of the mouth you can try using a swab (never your finger) and wiping the tongue and cheeks. But do not use the swab at the back of the throat as that can cause him to gag and possibly vomit.
Discuss this with the Hospice Nurse they will probably prescribe something but it is also another sign of decline that they would want to document.
When she got to the hospital she had a lot of phlegm. They suctioned it out of her mouth like at the dentist when they suck out the water during a cleaning.
Its helped tremendously.
According to LungInstitute.com, mucus producing foods include:
Red meat
Milk
Cheese
Yogurt
Ice Cream
Butter
Eggs
Bread
Pasta
Cereal
Bananas
Cabbage
Potatoes
Corn and corn products
Soy products
Sweet desserts
Candy
Coffee
Tea
Soda
Alcoholic beverages
Mucus-reducing foods include:
Salmon
Tuna
Sardines
Flounder
Pumpkin
Pumpkin seeds
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Watercress
Celery
Pickles
Onion
Garlic
Honey or agar
Ginger
Lemon
Cayenne pepper
Chamomile
Olive oil
Broth
Decaf tea
(Note: Since I started eating red meat [but without bread, potatoes, or other starches], I have had much less mucus. So I question the caution against red meat. But this is the recommendation provided by LungInstitute.com.)
It's best to not add meds to old people because meds always has side effects.
My Dad's Nurse said its good for him to spit as it gets it out of his lungs.
However, if your dad is actively gagging, that's another matter.
Suctioning will work better, and moving him from side to the other side. However, that is a learned skill and pretty gross to do, if you don't have the stomach for the yuckier side of CG.
I agree that this is something Hospice should be handling.
When I researched it, I found there's a potential interaction with glaucoma. My father had low tension glaucoma so I asked a staff nurse to hold off until I got clearance from his ophthalmologist, who was out of town, but the very, very competent and high performing staff got another ophthalmologist to return my call.
He had analyzed the situation and said that he didn't see a potential interaction or conflict. So I allowed the patch to be applied.
In retrospect, I don't think my father had as much mucus production once the patch was used, but this also was 2.5 years ago and my memories of hospice are fading.
In the meantime, avoid allowing him to lie flat on his back - because that will exacerbate the issue.