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.
Hip replacement surgery is a common procedure but not an instant fix for all persons with trouble walking. A lot depends on your father's motivation. Maybe some non-surgical treatment or physical therapy could improve his condition.
I am not suggesting that your dad have surgery . That is between you and your dad . I can , however , tell you my mom’s story . My mom is 96 . She has many medical conditions ( diabetes, Afib, CHF, CKD, high blood pressure , among other conditions ). She fell in February and fractured her hip. All of her doctors suggested hip surgery . My sister and I were shocked . She was 96 with so many medical issues. They explained that if we didn’t allow her to have surgery that she will be in pain for the rest of her life ( and it will worsen ) and the immobility will eventually lead to bed sores , etc. To make a long story short , she had the surgery ( despite my sister and I being petrified ) , spent time in rehab , and now is better than ever .
Wishing you the best with your dad, no matter what your decision .
The other important thing, going on what you've said, is to think about the alternatives. Supposing your father isn't a good risk for surgery - that doesn't mean that *nothing* can be done to improve his quality of life and his mobility. Find a physical therapist with some imagination and the skill to motivate and encourage your father; ask around about what kind of activities he might be helped to join in with - how about swimming, just as one example?
Two last things:
1. - you say his hip "crackles" when he walks, but what does the imaging show? Ask his surgeon to talk you through any scans or x-rays that have been done, and tell you what he does suggest if he can't recommend surgery.
2. You don't "believe" in nursing homes? Oo. That's a big subject! Look around on the forum :)
Full health assessment and of hip, proper imaging.
What does Dad want?
Is he compliant with his medications? The difference between being compliant with medications and having things like diabetes, high blood pressure, AFIB out of control is great. If he has good control of his diseases, it lowers the surgery risk tremendously.
I’m 67, having hip replacement next month, plus both knees soon after. I’ve got well controlled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, early diabetes (A1c is 5.7), hypothyroidism, and other health concerns. By taking my medications religiously, and closely limiting carbs for the early diabetes, my risk is much reduced. I am on oxygen for interstitial lung disease. Also compliant with using my oxygen. The reasons I’m going ahead with three more joint replacements as quickly as possible, besides pain of bone on bone joints, include my spouse’s precarious health. We have no family here, so every time he needs an artery blockage opened back up, bypass surgery, cancer follow up, I’m the caretaker. I need to do these surgeries while I have good blood sugar control, as diabetes slows healing. I already have diabetic peripheral neuropathy, so it’s increased surgery risk for me.
I point these things out to you, to explore if Dad can get better control of his diseases, to reduce his risk. He may be taking his medications regularly already. Does he maintain tight control of his diabetes? Can his cardiologist tweak his medications to improve risk there?
If he will allow, maybe go with him to his specialist appointments (assume there is a cardiologist involved in his care),
Like what was stated previously, offer to help with resources to get his affairs in order.
best wishes, keep us apprised here.
"Management of patients on DOACs in the perioperative period involves an assessment of thromboembolic event risk while off anticoagulation compared to the relative risk of bleeding if such drug is continued."
Or, in English, if the Pradaxa is stopped the patient is at higher risk of the strokes and heart attacks it helps to prevent; and if it isn't stopped he's at higher risk of dangerous bleeding during surgery.
I don't know if it's true of Pradaxa specifically as well, but I do know that Clopidogrel (another type of anticoagulant) meant that my mother could not have her wrist fracture treated under local anaesthetic - it had to be done using a Bier's block which was a whole 'nother bundle of fun on its own. This is to do with the risk of irreversible nerve damage because of the anticoagulant's interaction with the anaesthetic used, as far as I remember, and it all goes way over my unpaid grade - talk it through with your surgeon.
If there are alternatives to surgery those should be explored first. It depends what condition the actual hip joint is in.
In the early 2000s, my dad had a minor surgical procedure, on an outpatient basis. He had to stop taking a blood thinner for the surgery, which went very well. Two days after the surgery, he had a massive stroke, from which he never fully recovered. He died one month later.
I am relieved that I didn't have to make the decision for either of my parents about having surgery. I strongly advise against trying to sway your father or his physician.
A hip replacement is a bit different. I like the idea of the epidural anesthetic another poster suggested. If your dad is of sound mind and can listen to the pros and cons and then makes an informed decision, then I would say it’s up to him to decide if it’s worth the risk. All surgeries carry risks...it’s quality of life that is often a major deciding factor when it’s elective.
So, alternatives...
How bad's his hip?
Is your father overweight, as well?
If your father is in pain, it is hard for him to stay mobile and exercise. If he is immobile and doesn't exercise, his health (including his hip) will continue to deteriorate. I appreciate the Catch-22.
Who's working with him to improve his mobility? Does he have PT or anything like it?
A friend of mine, age 75, fell, had a hip replacement, fell again in PT, same hip replaced again, came home, fell again fractured the same hip, now in a nursing home. Her overall health was bad, now it is much, much worse. If it had not been an absolute emergency, the doctors would not have performed any surgery on her. She had a lot of the same issues as your father, now after these surgeries her mental health really has declined too.
What does your father want to do?
See All Answers