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Which best describes their mobility?
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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?
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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.
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We have thought about TV, clothing, bedding, diapers, underpads, etc., but are there other things we should be purchasing as well as we prepare to move him in?
A plastic basket on her bed or chair side table helped to keep all mom's little necessities within reach, but without getting knocked off onto the floor all the time.
This kept her things like tissues, glasses, the remote, toothpicks, hearing aid case and batteries, book, pens, etc. all together in that basket, and she could grab the whole thing onto her lap to find what she needed easily. It also helped family and staff to easily gather up her needed stuff and to know where it is.
Personal intimate items. Ex: Favorite bedding or sports team blanket..Few pictures of loved ones..bring favorite dishes snacks on occasions..less is better.
My mom loves her ELECTRONIC PICTURE FRAM. We preloaded about 100 old photos. She is able to enjoy her memories and loves it when people ask her about them and she can tell a story. The whole family can also upload photos directly to the frame from wherever they are. There are now over 150 photos in random rotation. We got this one on Amazon - https://a.co/d/90Vi1Ce
A DIGITAL CLOCK for the elderly, also from Amazon, has been terrific too. https://a.co/d/iXhaOeT
There's some good suggestions here and I think the lesser the better. They say about two weeks of change of clothes, towels and bath items. I moved my mom to assisted living and in three months, I had to move 2/3 of her belongings out because she was moved to memory care. Trash cans and garbage bags and really good laundry baskets for soiled items. Air fresheners,too! The dry erase board is essential in leaving instructions for how to use the remote/ favorite channels or messages for the family and staff. I hope you have him situated close to family as he still will be needing stuff. There's still a lot of chasing around for this and that but you will have less to worry about.
I would recommend labeling everything and also don’t take anything that is too expensive. Buy comfortable clothing, but cheap ones, especially if the facility will be doing his laundry. Things get mixed up and sometimes destroyed in the laundry (i.e bleach). His clothes may turn up missing or end up on another person. Also bring things to personalize his room, photos, posters, whatever will give him a sense of familiarity. By the way, the facility I had to place my husband in did not want me to supply the diapers I had for him because they used a “professional” type that was more absorbent and easier for staff to put on and take off. Good luck to you.
A large illuminated digital clock that also shows date and day of the week. A wipe off white board for loving thoughts, affirmations, religious sayings and reminders for facility and family events. Something familiar to hang on or next to his door for easy recognition. Short visits, very often will be appreciated. A 15 minute visit on a regular basis can be reassuring.
Bring her memories of old family photos that you can both look at when you visit. She most likely will use the books when she speaks to staff and other residents. Make sure her name is in it. One of my mom's books was returned to me several months after she passed. She brought the book outside of her room one day.
Buy a laundry marker for all the clothes and labels for other items. My mom is a hoarder, so we had to keep it as simple as possible. She loved to paint, so she has a couple of her own paintings on the wall which helped as well as photos of family, a few books and a bookbag to "hide things in" that she thinks other people might steal. They are not valuable, but to her they are. She also has a couple plants.
bethany1101, welcome to the forum. See if it is possible to arrange your father's bedroom the same as it was in his prior home. I know that helped my Dad in case he woke up in the middle of the night. We also brought along Dad's night-lights.
Also, if possible, use the same bedspread that he had used previously. That gave my Dad more of a feeling of comfort of "home". And hang pictures the same location as in his previous bedroom.
Depending on what's already in the room: TV stand, a place to put photos, a table or stand for next to the bed or chair, a recliner if he uses one at home, extra pillows, blankets and clothing for different temperatures (not just for different seasons but because of the possibility that the room will be overly chilly or overly warm).
Have a few (only a few!) photos of family on the wall. I made a list of family contacts (name, relationship, and phone number) with a sharpie on a sheet of paper in a plastic sheet protector that was pinned to the bulletin board. I bought a wipe warmer for my husband because he was very sensitive and didn't like being cleaned during diaper changes. The cold wipes were uncomfortable.
Make sure the TV you bring in is easy for him to use. Also consider a simple remote made especially for seniors, which only has On/Off button, a Volume Up/Down button, and Channel Up/Down button.
If you're allowed to leave snacks in his room, bring some snacks and refill regularly! Some pudding cups, applesauce or fruit cups, and some plastic spoons. Maybe some snack bars/energy bars.
LABEL all of his belongings - clothes, shoes, wheelchair, glasses, TV, TV remote, etc. And be prepared to lose some things.
When my MIL was transitioned into the LTC wing of her facility, it became apparent that the staff wasn't going to put a lot of effort into dressing her -- or, she maybe had enough joint pain or resistance to putting on certain garments -- so make sure your Dad has clothes that are easy on/easy off (eg: button-down shirts if he has trouble lifting his arms due to shoulder pain).
Ditto to Slartibartfast's suggestion that you need to clearly mark his garments with his last name (don't put rm # since your Dad may be moved around). Keeping my MIL's own clothing was an exercise in futility since we didn't do her laundry. Every time we went there she had someone else's things in her drawers -- and I assume they were from residents who had passed away.
If you live somewhere there are seasons you will need to "rotate" his seasonally appropriate clothes for easy access. Otherwise the staff may be making fashion decisions for him.
I want to second Geaton's suggestion of easy on/off clothing! My husband is mostly bed-bound, with partial paralysis, and I found it's easiest to dress him with elastic waistband lounge pants or sweat pants, a little oversize is better than snug fit. And I buy XL oversize cotton T-shirts. Everything is loose-fitting and easy to pull on and off. And, yes, you will lose clothes and find new clothes just appear. Don't worry too much about it.
Ask the facility for a move-in checklist. My mom’s facility gave me a helpful one. It reminded me of the packing list we got when we moved our oldest into his dorm. The one thing I should have brought was a pack of Sharpies to label all her laundry. I found one and then lost it half way through the day.
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.
This kept her things like tissues, glasses, the remote, toothpicks, hearing aid case and batteries, book, pens, etc. all together in that basket, and she could grab the whole thing onto her lap to find what she needed easily. It also helped family and staff to easily gather up her needed stuff and to know where it is.
A DIGITAL CLOCK for the elderly, also from Amazon, has been terrific too. https://a.co/d/iXhaOeT
Trash cans and garbage bags and really good laundry baskets for soiled items. Air fresheners,too!
The dry erase board is essential in leaving instructions for how to use the remote/ favorite channels or messages for the family and staff. I hope you have him situated close to family as he still will be needing stuff. There's still a lot of chasing around for this and that but you will have less to worry about.
Short visits, very often will be appreciated. A 15 minute visit on a regular basis can be reassuring.
Also, if possible, use the same bedspread that he had used previously. That gave my Dad more of a feeling of comfort of "home". And hang pictures the same location as in his previous bedroom.
I made a list of family contacts (name, relationship, and phone number) with a sharpie on a sheet of paper in a plastic sheet protector that was pinned to the bulletin board.
I bought a wipe warmer for my husband because he was very sensitive and didn't like being cleaned during diaper changes. The cold wipes were uncomfortable.
Make sure the TV you bring in is easy for him to use. Also consider a simple remote made especially for seniors, which only has On/Off button, a Volume Up/Down button, and Channel Up/Down button.
If you're allowed to leave snacks in his room, bring some snacks and refill regularly! Some pudding cups, applesauce or fruit cups, and some plastic spoons. Maybe some snack bars/energy bars.
LABEL all of his belongings - clothes, shoes, wheelchair, glasses, TV, TV remote, etc. And be prepared to lose some things.
Ditto to Slartibartfast's suggestion that you need to clearly mark his garments with his last name (don't put rm # since your Dad may be moved around). Keeping my MIL's own clothing was an exercise in futility since we didn't do her laundry. Every time we went there she had someone else's things in her drawers -- and I assume they were from residents who had passed away.
If you live somewhere there are seasons you will need to "rotate" his seasonally appropriate clothes for easy access. Otherwise the staff may be making fashion decisions for him.
My husband is mostly bed-bound, with partial paralysis, and I found it's easiest to dress him with elastic waistband lounge pants or sweat pants, a little oversize is better than snug fit. And I buy XL oversize cotton T-shirts. Everything is loose-fitting and easy to pull on and off.
And, yes, you will lose clothes and find new clothes just appear. Don't worry too much about it.