Best product for the elderly?

[Reaganbl]

My name is Brittany and I was hoping you could help me with a unique (probably weird) situation. I'm a nurse at a long-term care facility. I'm a non-smoker, never have been, can't-stand-it kind of person. Having said that, I take a patient out to smoke a few times per day. I've gotten very close to one of my patients who is a 70-year-old woman that has smoked nearly all her life. She has MS, she's wheelchair bound, suffered a pretty bad stroke a few years ago that caused vascular dementia, major vision problems, and seizures. That's just to name a few of her problems - hence the reason she needs 24hr care. She is one of the few patients that my facility allows to go outside and smoke. She must be with a staff or family member to do so, and this is always an issue and headache for everyone involved, especially her. She has NO desire to quit smoking, even with my offer of medications, the patch, (and of course my enthusiastic cheerleader constant support). Smoking is all she has left that gives her enjoyment. She smokes approximately a pack a day (it would probably be more if it were up to her). Her favorite cigarettes are Winston's, but she mostly smokes a cheaper brand called Timeless Times (I think they're 100's, and they're in a red box). Anyway, so I'm looking and HOPING to find the perfect e-cigarette for her! I'm not trying to force her to quit smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm hoping she can get to the point where she really likes an e-cigarette and can have less anxiety about having to constantly wait (sometimes for much longer than she'd like) for an available volunteer to smoke her. And of course I'm also hoping that she'll end up smoking real cigarettes less and less. A while back, she tried a brand called VUE. They looked like real cigarettes, and she didn't "mind" them, but she still liked the real thing better. One of the main problems with her, is that because of her vascular dementia, poor vision, and poor coordination, she needs something very easy - meaning nothing that you have to push a button five times or whatever to get it started. So after all that, can you recommend something that she would be able to handle without difficulty, and it tastes the most like a real cigarette? I've heard that the liquids are stronger tasting, but I don't think there's a device that would be easy for her to use? Something that she won't have to remember specific directions like holding a button down for several seconds, or pushing a button a certain amount of times. Staff could do whatever upkeep is needed, like refilling and charging. Anyway, sorry for the long message! Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you so much for your time,
Brittany

 

[cats5365]

The hardest part for me to switch from burning tobacco to e-cigs was accepting that none of them will taste like burning tobacco products because nothing gets burned in the process. The next step was finding some flavors I liked, and getting the right nicotine strength in the liquid. I started with tobacco flavors, but quickly went to fruits.

If your client has problems with dexterity and dementia, I would consider finding something more like the cigalikes just for the safety reasons and maintenance concerns. I don't know how diligent the staff and volunteers would be with charging batteries and not leaving them for too long after charging has finished. Tank systems would be better than cigalikes, but I would worry about her dropping and breaking the device. These are heavier than a cigalike, and you won't have the same hand-habits with them as you had with a traditional cigarette.

There are disposables, like the Vue, that are lowest maintenance. Blu also makes some, and you can probably find other brands as well. I only used Blu products, so I'm more familiar with them. If the lady is missing the activities of smoking, Blu makes a rechargeable system with batteries and tanks called Blu Plus. This is a lot like opening a pack, having a smoke, and carrying that pack around. The pack will charge the spare battery, and you can charge the pack itself. Staff might have to help with changing tanks for the lady and charging the pack. Walgreen's sells the Blu sets, and may carry other brands as well. The Blu kit will come with a wall charger and USB cord designed to work with the system.

Thank you for being open and willing to help the lady with e-cigs. It sounds like she has lost so many pleasures due to her illness, and finding a way to save one of her pleasures for her is a kind thing to do.

 

[hmar]

I second the Blu plus kit. It sin't a huge cost savings over cigarettes, but it will be close to the most similar experience she can get, and has the added bonus that cartridges are readily available at most gas stations.

 

[bnrkwest]

Yes I say Blu would be good for her and eadier for the staff to help with charging etc. could she use her blu I. Her room? That would make it more attractive for her to be vaping when she wants then only out for smoke once in awhile

 

[retired1]

In addition to the Blu kits, you may want to check out the JUUL as well.

 

[OlderNDirt]

I am not clear from your post, but it reads like vaping (e-cigarettes) are allowed inside the facility, for now anyway? I would make certain of this now and for the foreseeable future before undertaking the cost and effort this change may require.

Smoking is all she has left that gives her enjoyment.

Maybe it is due to my age, but taking away the only thing "left that gives her enjoyment" just sounds so uncaring for lack of a better term. It's worth a shot, but being somewhat familiar with similar situations, it's hard to envision a good outcome. Sorry for being such a "downer."

 

[Tempesta]

You could look at Halo and Volt as well (they are available online); I think one or both of them have a recharging case for the batteries. Thanks for caring enough not to take everything away from your patient--she could be any of us in time.

 

[crxess]

I have no specific answers. There are several Next Gen cig-a-likes that work much better than the originals and will deliver a Smoker friendly Feel,expected Nicotine supply and a somewhat familiar(un-burned) flavor.
Replaceable Cartridge designs will be more cost effective than Disposables.

*note - Automatic cig-a-likes work off the Puff(draw) Teach her to take a short then longer draw to get the darn thing operating efficiently.

Best of Luck to you and Her.

 

[AzPlumber]

Sounds like the cig-a-like type would be best but instead of trying to duplicate her favorite tobacco I would suggest a non tobacco flavor. Maybe a favorite candy or fruit that she would enjoy while still getting her nicotine between smokes.

 

[Koolkiz]

I would recommend the Njoy system. Simple and pre-filled tanks. Just research at the website. They do have a toll free number1-888-NOW-NJOY they can give you some recommendations as well.
NJOY Pre-Filled Tanks | High Capacity Battery | 1 Pack

Prefilled Tanks for Convenience Vaping from NJOY

Many locations to purchase as well. Walgreen's and local gas stations carry it. Just do a product location search.

I would recommend the Classic tobacco flavor to match the brand she smokes. I have tried the Classic and it's pretty good for a e liquid. Like others have state above it won't be the same as a burning cigarette.

I think it's a great idea and would give her some independence as well. Of course, she will need some supervision with care of the vaping system.

Good luck!

 

[sofarsogood]

My name is Brittany and I was hoping you could help me with a unique (probably weird) situation. I'm a nurse at a long-term care facility. I'm a non-smoker, never have been, can't-stand-it kind of person. Having said that, I take a patient out to smoke a few times per day. I've gotten very close to one of my patients who is a 70-year-old woman that has smoked nearly all her life. She has MS, she's wheelchair bound, suffered a pretty bad stroke a few years ago that caused vascular dementia, major vision problems, and seizures. That's just to name a few of her problems - hence the reason she needs 24hr care. She is one of the few patients that my facility allows to go outside and smoke. She must be with a staff or family member to do so, and this is always an issue and headache for everyone involved, especially her. She has NO desire to quit smoking, even with my offer of medications, the patch, (and of course my enthusiastic cheerleader constant support). Smoking is all she has left that gives her enjoyment. She smokes approximately a pack a day (it would probably be more if it were up to her). Her favorite cigarettes are Winston's, but she mostly smokes a cheaper brand called Timeless Times (I think they're 100's, and they're in a red box). Anyway, so I'm looking and HOPING to find the perfect e-cigarette for her! I'm not trying to force her to quit smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm hoping she can get to the point where she really likes an e-cigarette and can have less anxiety about having to constantly wait (sometimes for much longer than she'd like) for an available volunteer to smoke her. And of course I'm also hoping that she'll end up smoking real cigarettes less and less. A while back, she tried a brand called VUE. They looked like real cigarettes, and she didn't "mind" them, but she still liked the real thing better. One of the main problems with her, is that because of her vascular dementia, poor vision, and poor coordination, she needs something very easy - meaning nothing that you have to push a button five times or whatever to get it started. So after all that, can you recommend something that she would be able to handle without difficulty, and it tastes the most like a real cigarette? I've heard that the liquids are stronger tasting, but I don't think there's a device that would be easy for her to use? Something that she won't have to remember specific directions like holding a button down for several seconds, or pushing a button a certain amount of times. Staff could do whatever upkeep is needed, like refilling and charging. Anyway, sorry for the long message! Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you so much for your time,
Brittany

My vote is for a nautilus mini and and iStick 50w in a silicone sleeve. The 50w in a sleeve is very easy to hang on to and the battery might go a couple of days between recharges. Set the power to 8-10 watts. After that all she has to do is squeeze the button and take a puff. If she can't refill the atomizer get a second nautilus mini and keep them both topped off. A few staff will learn to do the refills because that will take a lot less time than going outside 20 times a day. Get a variety of flavors for her to try but try to find something with the lowest percent flavoring possible but a reletively high percent nicotine of 12-18mg. The coil heads will need to be changed every couple of weeks. When they go bad they taste terrible because the liquid is burning instead of boiling. Is her sense of taste normal? The less flavoring you use the longer the coil heads will last. Flavoring is over rated.

She probably won't stop smoking right away but if she vapes she will smoke less. When I started my daily cigs declined 80%. Over time the cigarettes should stop tasting good. Don't take her out everytime she asks so she vapes more but transitioning from smoking to vaping often takes weeks or longer. If she smokes a lot less you got most of what you want. Look at it like a very good therapy that workts at least 30% of the time and is dependent on the quality of support you give it.

If she stops smoking her morale will take a big boost. She'll be proud of herself just like the rest of us who managed the same thing. It's dirt cheap therapy compared to the cost of care.

 

[HauntedMyst]

The hardest part for me to switch from burning tobacco to e-cigs was accepting that none of them will taste like burning tobacco products because nothing gets burned in the process. The next step was finding some flavors I liked, and getting the right nicotine strength in the liquid. I started with tobacco flavors, but quickly went to fruits.

I agree with this, one of these things is to get them to find a flavor they like. Solve that and it's half the battle. That being a said, if smoking is one of the few things that gives her pleasure, once you give her a few options and if it doesn't take, you have to ask if you really want to press her on it making the switch.

 

[Eskie]

I think good advice has been offered. Given her age and multiple medical problems the idea of having her stop a life long habit is unlikely to help her health in any manner. I'm surprised your facility would even allow the use of an e cig indoors. However if she can use it a cigalike such as blu, njoy, it halo makes the most sense. I would not give her anything with a glass tank that could be easily broken if dropped. Good luck.


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[Vandal]

I just wanted to chime in with my appreciation for your caring attitude around this. I was in a position of having to caretake a friend of mine in the last few years of her life. I was a chain smoker and she couldn't be around cigarette smoke. Vaping had recently become a thing then, and that's what I turned to (been smoke-free since).

Even just visiting people/places I couldn't smoke around was stressful for me, much less being in that situation for years. Running outside every few minutes helped the cravings, but it didn't help me in any other way. I can't imagine facing a lifetime of that, much less having to wait on others to take me out. If you all do allow vaping in your facility, and your patient can adapt to vaping, I can't help but think this would be a huge morale-booster for her as well as possibly eliminating any stress and anxiety she may be experiencing with the current situation. May even have a positive effect on her health.

So, really, just thanks.

 

[Zipslack]

Just an extra thought, but to me, the NJOY tasted the most like a burning cigarette. The Light version I tried was almost exactly like a Marlboro Light.

 

[Frogfog]

I suggest ego aio. Maybe a couple of them in case of breakage since they are cheap. Disposable cigarette likes are too ....ty as I remember using them. Doubtful that she will quit smoking but she may cut on cigarettes. Also be careful about nicotine overdose, it's usual thing for new vapors as you might know. Maybe get some premium tobacco juice like Halo Tribeca.