Mom in AL receives supplies provided by Medicare. How to prevent others from taking them?

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Mom in AL receives supplies provided by Medicare. How to prevent others from taking them?

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My 89 year old mom is in assisted living and has been on hospice for the last few months. The hospice group has truly been a godsend. Their involvement has given me some much needed peace of mind of not feeling so alone in managing my mother's medical care. I am so appreciative of their skills in dealing with my mom as well the practical and comfort services they provide. Everything was going smoothly until just a few weeks ago when supplies they provided kept disappearing. There were six boxes of gloves in my mom's room and in less than a week there were none. Hospice has a ready supply on them they use, so they are essentially used by the AL workers and only occasionally. So an instance came up when gloves really were needed, and not a single one in sight. This is so aggravating, and so inconvenient. On a recent Friday afternoon I discovered a large full pack of pull-ups had disappeared in less than 24 hours. Within 2 days after hospice sent a few more pkgs, only a partial pack remains.

Hospice today said several of the patients they have at this AL also had large number of supplies missing this past weekend. We have had our share of issues with the AL. But this is just so low it is infuriating. I am very grateful Medicare provides these much needed supplies to the ill. It is a gift, and removes some of the financial burden from the ill and their families. It is disturbing that this much needed service by Medicare is being abused. Management of the AL is aware, but they are lax in monitoring their aids in general so unsure if anything will be done to deter this problem. I am sure others have encountered theft of Medicare supplies in other care facilities. If anyone knows any ways in which to combat this, I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks

Assisted Living Hospice

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I don't know that I have the best answer but I would report this as high up you can go with authority within AL. If you have the exact weekend dates that might help. It's not clear to me in your post if you have knowledge of thefts occurring from the same AL as the one you deal with or others in general. Of course it would be more ideal if there were incidents from the same one. I only had to go to the corporate level at the first AL my mother was in one time for an issue which was not at all theft related. It was an important issue and my call was returned quickly. That person then contacted the director of this AL. The issue was resolved very quickly. I hope you can get to the bottom of this. It is disgraceful that one more level of care should take such advantage. Please try all paths possible. I will hope for the best.

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Can you post a sign that says if you are taking these items for anyone besides mom it is theft and will be dealt with as such.

I would hide a camera, I know they frown on that, but thief's need to be caught and prosecuted. They never stop without being held accountable and even then it is highly likely they will steal again.

I hope you catch the culprit (s).

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There is a fair chance that this large number of supplies aren’t being taken for other residents, they are actually being stolen and sold. If it started fairly suddenly, a new staff member may be responsible. If you suggest this to the facility, they may take it more seriously.

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An AL should not be taking your supplies. This is an expense of the resident. ALs do not supply diapers or wipes. Their aids should be using the gloves the ALs provide. Only Hospice personel can use what Medicare provides. I think the nurse for the hospice should be talking to the nurse at the AL about the theft.
I suggest you buy a cabinet where the items are under lock and key. Only leaving out what is needed.

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Lock and key is the best answer if you are not there every day. I keep most of the Hospice provided supplies in my car and restock to the necessary level daily. I shouldn't have to do it this way, but when the unit is low on supplies, instead of going to the mail supply room, it is easier for the aides to go to a room that has an abundant supply. It's called being LAZY

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Your absolutely right. It's shameful of the facility

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It was my experience when my mom was in a memory care unit that things would go missing and other things would show up in her room that weren't hers. It's very common for the residents to wander into others rooms thinking that they are in their own. I would ask the staff to check others rooms. If they can't find the supplies, then you know it's theft.

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You could put a security camera in the area where supplies are. You can choose to monitor it or not. You could even not connect it but then post a sign that security cameras are in place monitoring for theft. If you choose to do this get one that records motion with night vision. We use one by Zmodo.
And be sure the director of assisted living knows what’s going on and inform her of the security cam. That is what I would do. I think the threat of it being there might stop this or catch the culprit. It is so frustrating.

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I would go ballistic about this.

It could be some sort of scam going on, given how much is going missing. But if it weren't for that I'd suspect it's that the aides in that area have discovered a source of supplies that's easier and quicker for them to get to than the correct store - a bit like a commuters' rat-run suddenly opening up outside your house because of roadworks somewhere else in the town.

In any case the managers have NO excuse for not addressing this RIGHT now, and to good effect. Grrrrrrrr!!!

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Speak to the unit manager. The facility Director. AND your county ombudsman. Theft is unacceptable. And yes, it may be easier for caregivers to appropriate your mother's extra supplies srather than go through the effort it often takes for aides to get suppliesa they need, which are often kept locked up. (Ironic: we trust aides with the lives and well-being of our loved ones but the facilities don't trust them with supplies. )

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You have some good advice already here. If theft for resale is suspected then removing the bar code and clearly marking the package with permanent marker that says "Not for resale, if someone is selling this to you then they stole it, please contact _____" put your contact information on it. The ideas for only leaving enough to last till your next visit is also good and certainly notify everyone all the way up of what is happening. When my husband was in hospital the nurses would often walk in and take supplies I purchased for use on him. This is lazy nursing, can spread disease patient to patient, and is against hospital policy for infection control. I started labeling the items as having been purchased by him so they would know this was not hospital property. Then, when that didn't work, I moved up to stronger wording.
USE OF OPENED PERSONAL CARE ITEMS ON MULTIPLE PATIENTS IS AN INFECTION CONTROL RISK AND IS AGAINST HOSPITAL POLICY.
THIS ITEM IS NOT HOSPITAL PROPERTY
THIS IS MY PERSONAL PROPERTY
TAKING MY PERSONAL PROPERTY IS THEFT
THEFT IS A CRIME
KEEP YOUR JOB, PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION,
LEAVE MY THINGS ALONE

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In an AL the residents buy their own Depends, wipes and toiletries. No aide should be taking anything for another resident. This is not a NH. Now a NH maybe different. They do supply residents with everything so using Hospice supplies should not be a big deal. An AL is the residents home their room is private.

All good suggestions. I like keeping the supplies in the trunk.

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Actually I’m n my dad's nursing home he is charged for supplies like briefs, tissues and wipes.

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We have this type of theft at school, so labeling EVERYTHING is the only way to prevent it. When gloves come in, label the boxes “1,2,3 etc”... and label EACH Depends... in permanent marker with a name and number.
in child care centers, individual supplies (diapers, gloves, wipes, ointment,) are kept in a separate bin, CLEARLY labeled with the child’s name . If you need to lock the bin, do it. Just make sure you label it in marker.
This is so aggravating, as it affects all taxpayers who bear the brunt of paying Medicare in one way or another!!! Theft is no joke.

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More specifically, label the supples 1 of 8, 2 of 8, 3 of 8...and so forth. Put a log on the wall and keep one yourself. If the numbered items are missing then it should be obvious, but it's really hard when you are not able to be there.
People with memory issues just pick up stuff. It seems to be a thing with dementia and AZ.

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I would ask at the local high school if somebody in the robotics club or class would like to help you set up a motion activated video camera that is hidden in a plant or something.

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I know that it is very upsetting situation. When my mother was in a NH shoes, clothes, sentimental items, etc. would disappear overnight. You could have the AL facility inventory the items paid by Medicare, and ask them to replace items lost or taken; if they will agree to it. Otherwise you need a hidden camera to catch the culprit(s). It could even be the staff! A nurse took my mother's shoes and I recognized them, and asked her to return them.

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Missing my father's shoes last weekend. Aids found them in the laundry but never explained how or why they were there. Missing the footpads off his wheelchair before that for 3 days. Everyone denied knowing anything but they were returned 4 days later with no explanation. Wish I had an answer.

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Label EVERYTHING in permanent ink with the LO's surname. I even labeled my late mother's toothbrush. Also go to the head of the place and complain with a back up of your complaint in writing.

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I would call Medicare and report it to them and report the facility! That would make them pick up their toes and pay attention!
The facility wouldn't want to loose any medicare benefits or get a bad reputation. So raise hell with the facility that you are going to complain to medicare.
Good luck.

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When my mother in law was in a nursing home I had to hunt for her stuff all the time. I made her an afgan and even put her name and room number on it. Every single day it ended up in another room. I had one family member stop me and asked me what I was doing when I walked into one room and took it off a chair. I pointed out the name and was left alone. ALL her clothes disappeared, even though I’d take her stuff home to wash. The stuff they replaced them with where horrible. I had gotten her a black and white TV to watch and had engraved MY NAME on the back. Found it in a room next door. It was too heavy for a client to have moved it. The family looked really embarrassed when I pointed out my name ingraved on it after they lied and told me they had brought it in. I took it home after I realized she was no longer able to watch it. I think a camera to catch them taking stuff is the way to go.

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I had encountered the same problem where my daughter is on Long Tern Care & Hospice care, After a few times of finding missing supplies, and when questioned it, was told, Oh someone probably just borrowed a few briefs, wipes, and or gloves. After 2 full weekly boxes disappeared from their supply room, I decided then that borrowing became non-replacement. I then had the Hospice office have her supplies sent to my home. Yes I bring whats needed, and keep her supplies set up. And, yes I actually have to take pictures for two reasons, are they changing her on a timely schedule, or "taking" one or two here or there. Shameful, but yes it happens.

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I have the Hospice supplies sent to my home after many incidents of missing supplies, when mention to staff, it's Oh, the CN, just borrowed. Items never replaced. So most are aware in the facilities from what I hear, just not dealt with enough to fix.

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I would go directly to the administrator with this. I would give the administrator a choice: He/she can keep your mother's supplies in their office, and every time something is needed--an adult pull up, a pair of gloves, etc.--the AL staff has to go into the administrator's office to get it & sign out what they are taking, or you can write a letter to the state agency that regulates AL's in your state to tell them that theft is being perpetrated at the AL by staff members, which is insurance fraud. I would make sure that I added in what you were told by the hospice about large amounts of supplies being missing over the same weekend & that you may have to invest in a security camera that will be set up in your mother's room to monitor who is removing the supplies from her room & then determine where that person took the supplies so you know exactly who to name in your complaint to the state insurance department with respect to the thefts. I bet supplies will no longer be missing after that.

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Boy, does this resonate! My client/friend, who is somewhat confused and pretty forgetful, and lives in AL tells me all the time stuff is missing. The staff says she's mistaken (uses her memory as an excuse). It's enough to shut up her family, but I KNOW some of the stuff walked, because I gave it to her! Not only that, but found an empty bottle of perfume I gave her in the waste basket; it had been full a week earlier.... pretty sure someone took hers and left the empty, which she must have put in the trash. Grrrr.... She also misses depends and pads - a LOT of them! Management plays dumb...

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Mom in AL receives supplies provided by Medicare. How to prevent others from taking them?

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