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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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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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I ma recovering from major ankle/foot surgery--and weirdly enough, the hardest thing to learn to accomadate was lowering myself onto the potty. It was just that final 5" that I'd kind of 'fall' onto it that really was kind of scary, to be honest. The knee high boot I was in kept me from just 'sitting' and also caused a lot of bruising on my legs.
I got online and found a toilet seat riser that was absolutely the best DME I'd bought for this recovery.
I really DID get the 'fear' of falling--and I knew full well there was a toilet behind me.
People suggested a commode in the bedroom, and I had to laugh. No way in this life would DH have cleaned one of those!
The seat felt VERY secure and that was helpful. Actually, it's coming off the toilet today as I am like 80% and walk with regular shoes. The seat riser is now kind of annoying, where it was an absolute godsend.
I had a shower wheelchair that I used for my Husband. It has a seat that looks very much like a toilet seat and has a basin that slides under the seat. Or the wheelchair can be rolled over the toilet with the basin removed so everything just goes into the toilet. That might work well, she can sit on the chair and use it as is or she can be brought into the bathroom and pushed over the toilet. and the shower wheelchair is much more stable than a commode.
I looked up PSP and balance and mobility is a problem. Maybe she feels she will fall off the toilet or just getting on and off throws her balance off. Unless a hi-risers with handles sre screwed onto the toilet, they are not really stable. (Our clients at the VNA didn't care for them) But a commode is. You can remove the toilet seats altogether or just keep them up. (Commodes have their own) Remove the bar off the back and slide the commode over the toilet. New ones should come with a bucket and a splash guard. (Either can be bought from a medical supply store) Take the splash guard and put it where the bucket would go. The legs on the commode are adjustable so adjust them so the bottom edge of the splash guard is at least below the rim of the toilet bowl. At this point it can be lowered for Moms comfort. Now she has arms on the side and legs firmly on the floor. When she gets up, she has the arms to hang onto till she can stand fully.
Just a comment on the safety of commodes. One that's a stand-alone, without reinforcement or support, isn't that safe. My mother discovered that, as did my father and I when he tried to help her with a commode during the night. She was tired, sleepy, needed help to get off, but fell over. We had to call EMS to help her get her up; there was no way of telling what injuries she may have sustained.
My memory is fading, but that might have been the time she ended up staying several days in the hospital. (As I age, all those events become less clear.)
If I ever had to use a commode, I'll have each leg reinforced with the adaptations that provide a greater area of floor contact, and or have other safety features.
Yeah, I was surprised at how flimsy some of the ones I've seen online look. I think they should all be like the ones marketed as bariatric commodes with full bench seats and heavy duty arms and legs.
dawnna911: Since PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) can cause problems with balance and movement, I can understand why she has "a fear of the bathroom," i.e. more importantly, perhaps she has a fear of actually ambulating TO the bath ROOM, for a valid fear of falling. I can understand that totally. Anyone who is unstable being upright should actually not attempt to walk. It is no wonder that she opts for a depend undergarment. Perhaps also a bedside commode would provide her more security, especially since she also (per your profile) suffers from Parkinson's Disease.
My mother has a fear of the bathroom and getting stuck on the toilet or dying on the toilet too. she is very deliberate and cautious with her steps when she does walk in the bathroom. We put up grab bars on the door and prop the door open on the toilet paper holder actually it doubles as a grab bar /toilet paper holder. Her issues is falling, and I think a vagus nerve thing going on because she gets weak whenever she voids her bowels and passes out. So we just avoid the bathroom most of the time.
She has an external catheter for the night and just voids in her diaper. It is a breeze. I get my sleep and so does she. I just use the diaper to wipe up most of the feces then the hygiene wipes for what is remains.
Everyone has suggested a bedside commode but there I drew the line because I just don't like the handling of it, rinsing and storing something that has had feces in it. Plus, she as osteoporosis and multiple myloma which can cause hairline fractures and eats away at the bone density leaving a swiss cheese like holes in her bones. So I'm afraid to use anything that is unnatural to her in regards to toileting. We just bought a swivel shower chair. I'm hoping that that will settle a lot of her fears of the bathroom and showering.
First off bless you!! Taking care of someone with PSP is very exhausting both physically & mentally. It's a cruel disease. Would it help if you went into the restroom with your Mom? It may calm her to know that you are there & available for her. I know it's probably not your ideal lot in life to be a bathroom buddy but it couldn't hurt to try it. ???
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.
I got online and found a toilet seat riser that was absolutely the best DME I'd bought for this recovery.
I really DID get the 'fear' of falling--and I knew full well there was a toilet behind me.
People suggested a commode in the bedroom, and I had to laugh. No way in this life would DH have cleaned one of those!
The seat felt VERY secure and that was helpful. Actually, it's coming off the toilet today as I am like 80% and walk with regular shoes. The seat riser is now kind of annoying, where it was an absolute godsend.
That might work well, she can sit on the chair and use it as is or she can be brought into the bathroom and pushed over the toilet. and the shower wheelchair is much more stable than a commode.
My memory is fading, but that might have been the time she ended up staying several days in the hospital. (As I age, all those events become less clear.)
If I ever had to use a commode, I'll have each leg reinforced with the adaptations that provide a greater area of floor contact, and or have other safety features.
She has an external catheter for the night and just voids in her diaper. It is a breeze. I get my sleep and so does she. I just use the diaper to wipe up most of the feces then the hygiene wipes for what is remains.
Everyone has suggested a bedside commode but there I drew the line because I just don't like the handling of it, rinsing and storing something that has had feces in it. Plus, she as osteoporosis and multiple myloma which can cause hairline fractures and eats away at the bone density leaving a swiss cheese like holes in her bones. So I'm afraid to use anything that is unnatural to her in regards to toileting.
We just bought a swivel shower chair. I'm hoping that that will settle a lot of her fears of the bathroom and showering.
Taking care of someone with PSP is very exhausting both physically & mentally.
It's a cruel disease.
Would it help if you went into the restroom with your Mom?
It may calm her to know that you are there & available for her.
I know it's probably not your ideal lot in life to be a bathroom buddy but it couldn't hurt to try it. ???
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