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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.
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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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Mother is moving to a new facility. It is an upgrade from her last facility. The agent mentioned that her new apartment has hardwood floors. I am concerned should she become unstable and have a fall. Would she be safer if we carpeted the apartment?
I think they normally prefer hardwood because its easier if they are using a walker or wheelchair. Carpet would be harder to push through. But I understand your concern about falls as well. It is a tough decision. I don't know if they are any grab bars or railings around the apartment that would help with balance.
I have "true" hardwood floors in my home. They are slippery when clean and polished, even with just a satin finish. Everyone knows to be careful, and nobody has even fallen (without trying, I have 13 grandkids who love to slide across the floor!) In a NH, the cleanliness of "hardwood" is usually the 1st factor--carpet is so hard to keep clean. Messes happen and the smells linger, people will catch a toe on the carpet--mother has carpet in 2 of her rooms and she has fallen myriad times on the carpet, never on the "hardwood". It's not slippery at all. I know what my hardwood floors are "worth" and I cannot see ANY NH putting out that kind of money on a floor that is going to need replacing every 5 years. Carpet does "seem" warmer, but IMHO, is a greater fall risk. NO SCATTER rugs, either, as much as you might want to dress up the place, those things are definite fall risks. I imagine the "hardwood floors" are laminate and those are not slippery, even when wet.
I've been trying to get all rugs out of my parent's house for over a year. Man, my mom is resistant on it. I suppose it'll take a hip fracture, before she lets them go. I do make sure they are thin and as flat to the floor as possible. But, still.......
Just for info I have been advised that sealed cork is the best flooring since it is waterproof and softer than wood. As for a carpet....hmm Mum has a carpet - I have to shampoo it at least 3 times A WEEK because she is incontinent and dribbles (or full on pours) when she stands from the commode. She tends to throw a lot of food on the floor and even more tea gets spilled. Occasionally she will soil as she stands but that is rare as yet. Whatever you have it has to be deep cleanable because ultimately you will need it to be. You can get some very very spongy vinyl now though which also might be worth considering.
I read a study about how seniors who live in carpeted homes suffer less fractures than those with other floors. (This was about 3 years ago.) If I can find the link, I'll PM it to you. However, having carpet in a LTC facility may not be practical. I mean, just the sanitary aspect of it. With all the accidents that happen.....there is no way getting the floors clean would be possible with carpet. Do you have the option of putting carpet in her apt area? It's a lot to consider.
From an elders point of view (recent changes in health) I find hardwood floors especially stairs very dangerous. I have also had a bad fall on carpet so who can tell. I tend to walk around at home barefoot because I feel personally it gives me better traction even though I am advised to always wear well fitting shoes. My walker with front wheels seems to be easy to control but the normal home really does not have room to use one indoors. Another option is to use the socks they give you in the hospital with the little sticky blobs on the sole. A hard floor is definitely more hygienic and easier to keep clean but definitely deadly when wet. Railings certainly help a lot especially on both sides of the stairs.
Usually floors underneath carpeting are hard like concrete. At least wood is softer than concrete. My MIL used to get her walker caught on her area rugs. She fell in her bathroom - tile - and gave herself many a hematoma. She fell in her kitchen - also tile - and gave herself many a black eye. Yet when she fell in her living room on the wood floor she didn't do as much damage. Wall-to-wall if it's on top of wooden floors would offer the most protection but again, if it's atop concrete it's a hard landing.
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 think they normally prefer hardwood because its easier if they are using a walker or wheelchair. Carpet would be harder to push through. But I understand your concern about falls as well. It is a tough decision. I don't know if they are any grab bars or railings around the apartment that would help with balance.
I know what my hardwood floors are "worth" and I cannot see ANY NH putting out that kind of money on a floor that is going to need replacing every 5 years.
Carpet does "seem" warmer, but IMHO, is a greater fall risk. NO SCATTER rugs, either, as much as you might want to dress up the place, those things are definite fall risks.
I imagine the "hardwood floors" are laminate and those are not slippery, even when wet.
A hard floor is definitely more hygienic and easier to keep clean but definitely deadly when wet. Railings certainly help a lot especially on both sides of the stairs.
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