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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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I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
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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:
She is able to do everything for herself, except drive, cook while home alone, and shower while alone (she won't shower unless I'm home, in case of a fall or slip). She burned something on the stove three months ago, while I was at work, but has not cooked while alone since then (I turn off the circuit breaker just in case - she's never mentioned that the stove doesn't work) and sometimes forgets my name. Because of this, her doctor says she should be in a nursing home. I don't think she's ready to go into either a nursing home or assisted living. She has trouble getting the right words out, even though she knows what she wants to say. She doesn't fall, and can walk the dog without a problem. Her health is excellent for someone her age. Her bones are like those of a 20-something woman (according to the scan her doctor did four months ago). She has always taken very good care of herself.
I know things will only get worse over time, so I'm considering staying at home, rather than have sitters, at least until I have no other choice but to place her in a nursing home. It would be difficult to pay sitters, anyway, with the money left over after paying taxes on the Aid and Attendance from the VA. It wouldn't be enough to pay the normal rate for 40 hours while I work. If I stay at home, I would still pay taxes, but there would be enough to pay for my health insurance, and my bills. When she goes into a nursing home, her income, plus A&A, would cover her expenses.
I'm not sure what it is you need to know about me, except that I work a dead-end job (PBX operator - these jobs are projected to be obsolete within the next 10 years), and have reached the ceiling of the pay scale. I am paid approximately $1 - $2 more per hour than the sitters would need to be paid. It wouldn't pay for me to work extra hours at a part time job, since the sitters would be making more than me per hour.
I am currently working on a resume to hunt for a better paying job, but the reality is that I don't have very many qualifications for anything that would pay much more than what I have now. Plus, I would have to travel at least 20 miles to another job, and that would mean more expenses - gas, more time for sitters, etc. I am taking a computer course (Java Language) at a local college, but have no degree. Besides all of this, I am weighing the benefits of staying home with her for as long as I have her around, against better pay and having someone else care for her while I'm away and won't have the time to spend with her like I would like to have. Who knows how long she will be here? Will I regret not being here with her more than getting a better job? I realize jobs are hard to get right now, but McDonald's always seems to be hiring - and, yes, I'm willing to work there if I have to! It's not like I have to replace a huge salary. Also, I have ways to earn a little extra from home. I have done crafts and sold them in the past, plus I'm an artist, and am considering what I could do with that, realizing fully that it probably would not be steady income. Any adivice or input would be greatly appreciated!
You've weighed all the pros and cons, plus you have something to fall back on -- arts and crafts, McDonald's (what a nightmare!). Caring for your mother seems a win-win, so I'd go ahead with it. Like you said, "Who knows how long she will be there?" Sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith, and let the chips fall where they may. At least you won't have to spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been.
Anyway, it's time for my morning song: "On the Side of Angels" by Leann Rimes. Ever heard it? It's on Youtube.
This is a tough and personal call. The aid and attendance benefit is not a taxable income if used to pay for outside caregivers or assisted living. You can be paid by your mother to provide the care. In this case the payment "may" be taxable income to you. Check with a local accountant for that answer. Best of luck.
It sounds as though you have thought it through and really are looking for support or affirmation from others that staying home is a good idea. You will have to make that decision on your own. Just some food for thought--I work from home and also care for my live-in mother. As much as I love her, this means we are together ALL the time. My advice is if you do decided to stay home that you maintain a personal social life that does not include your mother. Unfortunately I failed to do so! Some personal, private time is absolutely necessary for caregivers.
Thank you all for your suggestions and support! I really appreciate the input. I will carefully weigh all aspects of this situation before making a final decision.
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 know things will only get worse over time, so I'm considering staying at home, rather than have sitters, at least until I have no other choice but to place her in a nursing home. It would be difficult to pay sitters, anyway, with the money left over after paying taxes on the Aid and Attendance from the VA. It wouldn't be enough to pay the normal rate for 40 hours while I work. If I stay at home, I would still pay taxes, but there would be enough to pay for my health insurance, and my bills. When she goes into a nursing home, her income, plus A&A, would cover her expenses.
I'm not sure what it is you need to know about me, except that I work a dead-end job (PBX operator - these jobs are projected to be obsolete within the next 10 years), and have reached the ceiling of the pay scale. I am paid approximately $1 - $2 more per hour than the sitters would need to be paid. It wouldn't pay for me to work extra hours at a part time job, since the sitters would be making more than me per hour.
I am currently working on a resume to hunt for a better paying job, but the reality is that I don't have very many qualifications for anything that would pay much more than what I have now. Plus, I would have to travel at least 20 miles to another job, and that would mean more expenses - gas, more time for sitters, etc. I am taking a computer course (Java Language) at a local college, but have no degree. Besides all of this, I am weighing the benefits of staying home with her for as long as I have her around, against better pay and having someone else care for her while I'm away and won't have the time to spend with her like I would like to have. Who knows how long she will be here? Will I regret not being here with her more than getting a better job? I realize jobs are hard to get right now, but McDonald's always seems to be hiring - and, yes, I'm willing to work there if I have to! It's not like I have to replace a huge salary. Also, I have ways to earn a little extra from home. I have done crafts and sold them in the past, plus I'm an artist, and am considering what I could do with that, realizing fully that it probably would not be steady income.
Any adivice or input would be greatly appreciated!
You've weighed all the pros and cons, plus you have something to fall back on -- arts and crafts, McDonald's (what a nightmare!). Caring for your mother seems a win-win, so I'd go ahead with it. Like you said, "Who knows how long she will be there?" Sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith, and let the chips fall where they may. At least you won't have to spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been.
Anyway, it's time for my morning song: "On the Side of Angels" by Leann Rimes. Ever heard it? It's on Youtube.
Have a wonderful day Lee, and stay in touch.
-- ED
Best of luck.