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
[email protected] 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.
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our
Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our
Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Also Ive seen Humane societies bring small dogs into nursing homes for regularly scheduled visits. My mother would love that. I'd like more pet approved places provide that service Independent Living and Assisted Care Facilities. It helps all involved, including the dogs.
I encourage her to walk the wonderfully decorated hallways or to ride her Jazzy, just to 'get out' and socialize.
Mom used to crochet, but has so little feeling in her fingers, she can't feel the yarn anymore, but needs to do more with her hands besides eat and nibble.
We're open to other suggestions.
- wind yarn into balls (sometimes I take already wound balls and have her rewind them again since she can't see that they are already wound)
- string large pony beads on a plastic lanyard (I have enough for 6-8 strands. Then I just take the beads off the lanyards so she can string them again)
- I bring her out to the kitchen and set her at the kitchen table. I wash smaller, lighter dishes, measuring cups, plastic cups and bowls, etc. and place them on the table in front of her so she can dry them. We have a dishwasher but this gives her something to do.
- I shake out clean hand towels and wash cloths and place them in a small laundry basket and have her fold them for me. This is great with fresh laundry I am doing.
- I give her a dusting rag and have her dust knick knacky items from the living room and around the house.
- I give her a stretch band and exercise ball to do leg, arm and hand exercises with.
Scahlll, use the search function to search for similar answers, as this question is raised periodically. This might be a good start:
https://www.agingcare.com/search.aspx?searchterm=sources+for+books+for+the+blind
But for things to do at home: I had a blind aunt who knitted. I think she knitted before she went blind but I wonder if a simple knit stitch could be learned. She couldn't see her dropped stitches but was still able to donate her handiwork to make blankets for the local shelters, so it made her feel productive and didn't have to be perfect, either.
For the blind activities in a home, I'd suggest a drum class. I've been to my sighted mother's class and it's not like you have to watch the instructor. Everyone has a drum and does their own thing. They drum and sing along to favorite old songs. There are people in some communities that specialize in these types of drum classes and go to senior centers and homes.
Some communities have senior centers. Ours takes a 1.5 hour bus ride for my mother so it's not an option, but they have exercise programs, arts & crafts etc. for advanced elderly, dementia and Alzheimers patients. They even have a hairdresser come in sometimes to do their hair. The cost in our county is on a sliding scale. I only wish there was one closer. Check the web to see what's available in your area.
Some of the concerts include a range of music, including big band music.
Some United Methodist Churches also have free music programs on a weekly basis. In our area the one that has the most programs offers them at 7 at night.
If you like a particular group, check their website and see if their schedule includes other concerts. We follow the two fiddling groups we like and go to a few different places for their concerts.
I don't know if Senior Centers have activities that might be appropriate, but you could check the local community senior centers to see if they do.
Sometime ago I read of a program at a garden center for the vision impaired, but I don't remember where it was. The gardens were in raised beds; wheelchair patients could roll up, touch the herbs and enjoy the fragrance.
Here's an article on creating a garden for the visually impaired:
gardeningknowhow/special/accessible/visually-impaired-gardens.htm
Even if you don't have any gardening space, you could create a small terrarium garden with herbs that your mother could rub, and perhaps clip for cooking.
There may also be an opportunity to start a project like these gardens in your community; doing some research might suggest potential partners, especially at a library, church or other community oriented facility.
I googled "vision impaired gardens"; you might find other hits that offer suggestions. Your profile doesn't indicate your location, so I can't tell if there might be any programs near you.
The blind associations may also have information on these kinds of gardens.
Even if your mother isn't able to garden, it would be an excursion out of the house, and the experience of touching fragrant herbs would be a mood elevator.