My mother is currently living with my sister. She is 76 years old and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My sister has a large breed dog and my mother likes to irritate him (my sister's words). So... They have a lock on the outside of my mother's bedroom door so that she doesn't get attacked. They're to keep my mother safe. Is this legal to do in any state ?
The bigger question is why isn't she in AL? What's the point of cooping her up in her room? It seems cruel. No one would do that to an animal, no less their Mom... so you see where your sister's priorities lie.
If sister can't resolve the living arrangements to better accommodate your mother, then please find somewhere else for mom to live! Preferably a memory care assisted living facility. I'm sure neither you nor your sister are equipped to handle your mother's ongoing needs as her disease progresses. It gets much more challenging! It never gets easier. She will need cares and behave in ways that you never imagined, unless you have prior hands-on experience taking care of someone with Alzheimer's.
Please, get her comfortably situated in a nice, safe care home before this gets more dangerous.
If Mom gets injured it blocks Mom from getting help from others in the home.
A memory care facility is not going to let a resident get snacks from the kitchen at all hours. Definitely, there should be someone assisting in toileting the mother a few times in the overnight. There's a reason why memory care floros are locked. This is so residents can't wander off. Same thing applies to a private house. You can't allow someone with dementia to get up and wander around when everyone is in bed because they have to be supervised 24/7 like a toddler. A lock on the outside of the bedroom door is a safety measure.
Your sister could be in big trouble if someone reports this to APS or other authorities. She’ll be in worse trouble if that dog hurts or kills your mother. I can’t believe anyone would think this arrangement is a good idea. Color me flabbergasted.
This is WRONG on so many levels and it needs to stop today. Call Adult Protective Services first thing Monday morning and report this abuse. They will come out and if need be take over moms care, meaning they will get her placed in the appropriate facility where mom will be looked after 24/7 and be kept safe in the right ways.
To me this is NO different than keeping a child locked up in a closet all day.
If you truly love your mom you will stop this abuse today.
The mother or the dog should be moved out. That's an disaster waiting to happen.
If Mom has no money, you can apply for Medicaid and place her in a nice Longterm care facility.
The dog is not a good idea if the mother antagonizes it. Either the dog has to go or your mother has to. Maybe it's time to talk with your sister about next steps and placing your mother in memory care.
A dog that is part of sister's family. Most dogs wag their tails into family settings.
You, your sister, and family, must make other arrangements for mom. Or, convince sister and her family to move dog...
mom needs help. The more this disease progresses, the more help mom will need...
sorry yours going through this.. don't be upset with the sister; she thought things would work. They are not.
Can you put mom into respite care while you find a better solution?
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