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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
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?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
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.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
Things my husband has tried to eat: His hearing aids. Part of a table decoration at a restaurant. Legos. Flowers from the yard. Sticks from the yard. His knuckle. My knuckle. His glasses. His other glasses. His toothbrush. A centipede. The hospice nurse's notebook. Pens. Pencils. His bib. His shirt. Buttons from his shirt. Sharp pieces of plastic. The top from a pudding cup. A busy board. A screw. Used toilet paper. My phone. Many napkins. Pieces of paper. His watch. A knob off something. Tape. A letter opener. His fork. His sippy cup. Other cups. The table cloth. And on and on.
Chiding him doesn't work because he doesn't know he's doing anything wrong. Redirecting him doesn't work because he will find a way to eat something else. Teaching him doesn't work because his brain can't learn. This behavior started at least three years ago. It will last until he dies.
The question is, how long can you deal with it? And if you can't, when will you be ready to place her where many caregivers' eyes will be upon her and the environment is regularly cleared of things she shouldn't put in her mouth?
Why do you allow her to have access to the toothpaste and toothbrushes then. This is dangerous and she's going to hurt herself. If she's eating everything in sight that's pretty dangerous too.
If you're planning on keeping her home and not putting her in a memory care facility, the house has to be 'baby-proofed'. At this point you are living with an adult-sized toddler who is still mobile. She will have to be supervised 24/7 the same as a toddler and you have to lock up everything.
Do you have any outside homecare help coming in? Looking into in-home care is a good idea. Also, is there an adult daycare facility in your area? This could also be a great help to you. Many adult daycares also do showers for clients so that's one less thing you will have to deal with.
I was a homecare worker for a very long time before going into the business of it. I will tell you honestly here. When a person is into the behaviors of eating everything in sight and brushing their teeth 20 times a day, that's not the early stages of Alzheimer's. That's the stage where considering placement in a memory care facility or 24-hour, live-in help is necessary.
[ Moderators, please relocate to the Questions section, thx ]
Remove the toothpaste and brush (and hide yours). She can cause sores in her mouth from all that brushing and may develop an infection and pain. It's not worth it. She doesn't have to brush her teeth. If you think she won't drink it, consider a mouth wash once or twice a day. Maybe use one for kids, keep it hidden when not in use.
I agree with talking to her doctor today about this OCD behavior and meds to address it. Yes, she can move on to eating non-food items so watch what she is doing to make sure this in fact isn't already happening.
This may escalate to eating non-food items, including some that may be unhealthy, unsanitary, poisonous, or choking hazards. Talk with her neurologist right away about medication for this. And do toddler-proofing in your house -- prescriptions, cleaning supplies, even shampoo and soap locked up and out of reach. I'm sorry, it must be so frustrating. I suggest you start considering memory care for in case you can't get this under control.
This is more advanced than early Alzheimer’s. She’s now into the moderate stage where you can expect anything and everything to happen. It’s time to find caregivers to help both of you. Start looking into it now, and don’t think you can handle everything all by yourself. Good luck with finding what you need.
Your wife likely needs medication to help calm her compulsive behaviors. Please speak to her doctor about it. You may need to limit her access to food, toothpaste, and many other household items. I’m sorry you’re in this new place with her and wish you both peace
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.
Chiding him doesn't work because he doesn't know he's doing anything wrong. Redirecting him doesn't work because he will find a way to eat something else. Teaching him doesn't work because his brain can't learn. This behavior started at least three years ago. It will last until he dies.
The question is, how long can you deal with it? And if you can't, when will you be ready to place her where many caregivers' eyes will be upon her and the environment is regularly cleared of things she shouldn't put in her mouth?
I'm so sorry you're going through this.
If you're planning on keeping her home and not putting her in a memory care facility, the house has to be 'baby-proofed'. At this point you are living with an adult-sized toddler who is still mobile. She will have to be supervised 24/7 the same as a toddler and you have to lock up everything.
Do you have any outside homecare help coming in? Looking into in-home care is a good idea. Also, is there an adult daycare facility in your area? This could also be a great help to you. Many adult daycares also do showers for clients so that's one less thing you will have to deal with.
I was a homecare worker for a very long time before going into the business of it. I will tell you honestly here. When a person is into the behaviors of eating everything in sight and brushing their teeth 20 times a day, that's not the early stages of Alzheimer's. That's the stage where considering placement in a memory care facility or 24-hour, live-in help is necessary.
Remove the toothpaste and brush (and hide yours). She can cause sores in her mouth from all that brushing and may develop an infection and pain. It's not worth it. She doesn't have to brush her teeth. If you think she won't drink it, consider a mouth wash once or twice a day. Maybe use one for kids, keep it hidden when not in use.
I agree with talking to her doctor today about this OCD behavior and meds to address it. Yes, she can move on to eating non-food items so watch what she is doing to make sure this in fact isn't already happening.