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.
there are several things to consider,
1 Mom is 93
2 She has little pain and can move around.
3 she would probably be distressed by a daily injection and likely become anxious and think there was something REALLY WRONG with her.
4 It is unbelievably expensive From memory $700 a month
The main things to keep in mind are encouraging a healthy diet containing plenty of calcium and keep her moving but be very careful to protect her from falls.
Was the fracture discovered by chance or did she fall and have an x-ray that revealed it. Many elders especially with osteoporosis do have what are called compression fractures of the spine which just happen. You need to guard her as best you can so that she does not have any other fractures. You did not mention Mom's general health both mental and physical but at 93 her life expectancy can not be too long so your idea of keeping her safe and comfortable is the way to go.
I see your point now and understand your concern.
Some questions to clarify the need vs. desirability:
What kind of doctor recommended the shot? An orthopedic doctor? Or was it a primary care or internist?
Were any DEXA studies done of your mother's bones so that you have histories of how much change there has been over a period of time?
Personally, I would agree that your mother's comfort and mental level are equally important. I also personally have strong feelings about some of the osteoporosis meds, specifically Fosamax.
I would (a) ask the doctor how long he/she anticipates these shots would be necessary/desirable; and (b) research Forteo, especially its side effects.
Fosamax which was recommended for my father had side effects and has been the subject of class action suits. Although strongly encouraged by his PCP, my father refused to take it after the first go-around in which he found it a difficult drug, and I supported him because of the strong side effects beyond the digestive issues.
It wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion - perhaps make an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist and inquire about PT, if your mother isn't already getting it. From all I've read, weight bearing exercise is the best method (assuming the personal can tolerate the exercise) for osteoporosis prevention.
I should also reveal that I have a strong objection to drugs that are "desirable" but not "necessary" - but that's just my personal opinion.
Having written that, I chickened out when my father needed Lovemax after he glared and glared and glared at me and I decided it would be better to have one of his friends who was a nurse give the injection. He wouldn't glare at her. All that glaring shook me up and I might have ended up injecting myself.
Reading some of the negative statistics on fractures might be more convincing.
I assume she's not in rehab, as if she were, the nurses there could administer the drug. Or is it the drug itself to which you object?