My mother is in a memory care nursing facility. They go into her room, even with the door closed, and they rummage through her drawers, and personal belongings. They steal her things everyday, right in front of her. She is immobile, and can do nothing to prevent it. It is costing me a lot of money having to constantly replace items, because the nursing home just okey dokey's me when I complain about her clothes or other things that have disappeared. They never turn back up. I have even started doing her laundry, hoping it would help. I don't know what to do about it. Any suggestions?
Yes, there is a NH bill of rights. Yes there is an ombudsman.
Start advocating for change.
(and she's immobile, can do nothing).
awful.
and some of the people stealing, might be doing it very consciously (whether it's staff...or people with dementia. there are many degrees of dementia: some people are totally aware of what they're doing, right and wrong, morals).
a dramatic solution, would be to move to another facility? (speaking to family of other people to see what they say about the new facility).
when patterns like this start (stealing, daily!) --- i think it's very unlikely it'll stop.
i think unfortunately, it might continue to cause stress for you, and your mother.
it could also be a warning sign of other not good things happening. hug!!
My mom was also in a wheelchair and I was nervous for her when people wandered into her room because she was unable to call for help or defend herself, her nursing home began using stop sign banners that adhered to the door frame and that seemed to work (when staff remembered to use them).
My mothers own laundry was always returned to her. Always dressed in her own clothes.
Anothing that disappeared (one item) she was reimbursed for.
Call the ombudsman.
Google "CMS Nursing Home Bill of Rights".