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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.
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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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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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My mom has dementia and is in need of dental care. I’m worried she will freak out once she gets in the dental chair. Any advice? Are there dementia friendly dentists? How would I find one in my area?
Where I live a company called speedy dental actually goes to the memory care and has done cleaning and digital X-rays on Hub and it was a positive experience. I did go at appt time everything was portable and talking to him and holding his hand he did great! For me a win win as he stayed in familiar center they were so good with him and others and took dental insurance. Check your area and ask wellness director if they are aware of services. It would have been too hard on both of us if I took him out
You call the DDS office(s) in your area and ask them if they see / will see individuals with cognitive decline/dementia and if they do, how do they handle unforeseen behavior?
She may freak out. With dementia, people are often fearful of unfamiliar surroundings and people. It depends on her individual responses, i.e., how does she handle being around unfamiliar environments now? with new unfamiliar people? people touching her (going into her mouth is another level - do you or someone now brush her teeth)?
Call your local (or national) Dementia / Alzh Association. Call the dental association.
Our dentist retired and a young dentist replaced him. He has been wonderful. My husband is 93. We are also using the strategy, no pain, no infection, leave it alone. He also had neck radiation 8 years ago so his teeth will not hold fillings.
In our area there is one anesthesia dentist who uses full anesthesia to treat many dementia and disabled patients who would not otherwise be able to tolerate dental treatment. It is expensive b/c the patient has to pay for the procedure plus the anesthesia, but it can be worth it for any kind of severe dental phobia or anxiety.
I don't know if less complete levels of sedation would be as helpful, but various types of "sedation dentistry" are available in most areas.
This post really caught my eye. In lhe last year of my sweet mother's life, she needed to have a tooth extracted. My mom was cognitively impaired and the idea of taking her to the dentist, especially during Covid, was daunting to say the least.
I called my dentist and asked if he knew of a dental professional who could work with my mom’s condition. After some research, which including calling the Illinois Dental Association, he gave me the name of a dentist, not too far from us, who had a great deal of experience working with patients on the cognitive decline.
This dentist was absolutely amazing. Instead of having my mom lie on her back, he positioned her leaning forward in a special chair (that he designed) which allowed him to work under her. This position still allowed him to work on my mom and avoid any swallowing issues, especially since she had esophageal achalasia (when the nerves in the esophagus no longer work and the swallowing function has declined).
The dentist removed her tooth and inserted a false tooth all within 45 minutes. It was still difficult and frightening for my mom, but I was able to sit next to her and hold her hand throughout the entire procedure. We also played her favorite music which greatly helped to calm her down.
I hope the above gives you an idea of what to look for.
My wife had terminal Alzheimer's and up to the very end she went to a dentist who understood her condition and allowed me to hold her hand during the entire visit. It worked and she had very little fear nor was upset. I was probably more nervous than her.
Our long-time dentist allowed me to sit next to my late husband and keep his animatronic "Joy for All Cat" in his lap during cleanings, exams, and other necessary dental work. (I would never allowed pulling teeth without a dental implant or permanent bridge.) Fortunately, he used to keep good care of his teeth before his frontotemporal degeneration diagnosis and let the long-term care staff brush his teeth, and never needed anything but a few more fillings. There was a dentist that came to his long-term care center, but frankly he was,pretty useless. Looked into the residents' mouths but that was about it and pulled teeth if necessary. Our dentist would prescribe a low dose of Valium for my husband before his appointments. I'd pick it up and bring it to his long-term care center the day before with detailed instructions about when they should give it to him. I drove my husband to the dentist and promised him ice cream on the way home, As long as your loved one has a good relationship with her/his dentist, there's no reason to neglect necessary dental care. I also purchased dental insurance for him which helped w/the costs of dental care. It would have broken my heart if my husband hadn't gotten proper dental care and had to have teeth pulled. I sure didn't want him to look like a Halloween jack-o-lantern and I think he'd have been horrified if that happened to him.
My dentist also sees my dad (who has dementia as well) . . . he has a "if he's not complaining, leave it be" approach. He cleans the remaining teeth, and updates me on how many bad teeth my be falling out soon, which at this point he has lost those. But if in pain, you can stay near to reassure her.
Call your OWN dentist and ask. Speak with your MD office, or the MD office involved with your elder's care. Good luck. You might also google "specialized elder dental care" for your area.
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.
She may freak out.
With dementia, people are often fearful of unfamiliar surroundings and people.
It depends on her individual responses, i.e., how does she handle being around unfamiliar environments now? with new unfamiliar people? people touching her (going into her mouth is another level - do you or someone now brush her teeth)?
Call your local (or national) Dementia / Alzh Association.
Call the dental association.
Gena / Touch Matters
I don't know if less complete levels of sedation would be as helpful, but various types of "sedation dentistry" are available in most areas.
I called my dentist and asked if he knew of a dental professional who could work with my mom’s condition. After some research, which including calling the Illinois Dental Association, he gave me the name of a dentist, not too far from us, who had a great deal of experience working with patients on the cognitive decline.
This dentist was absolutely amazing. Instead of having my mom lie on her back, he positioned her leaning forward in a special chair (that he designed) which allowed him to work under her. This position still allowed him to work on my mom and avoid any swallowing issues, especially since she had esophageal achalasia (when the nerves in the esophagus no longer work and the swallowing function has declined).
The dentist removed her tooth and inserted a false tooth all within 45 minutes. It was still difficult and frightening for my mom, but I was able to sit next to her and hold her hand throughout the entire procedure. We also played her favorite music which greatly helped to calm her down.
I hope the above gives you an idea of what to look for.
It worked and she had very little fear nor was upset.
I was probably more nervous than her.