My mom is constantly losing her keys to her AL apt. The facility puts it on a lanyard, which she wears, but then feels compelled to take the keys OFF the lanyard and lose them. I have also tried a wrist lanyard, but she won't wear it. Facility charges 35 bucks for replacement! We're on our 4th set in 6 months. Any suggestions?
Seriously, keys hanging on your chest can be uncomfortable. I would find her a leather key holder. This is worn around the neck and the ringed keys go inside a flap inside the leather. Much easier to wear.
You can also put her name on the back and bling up the front to make it like a piece of jewelry, maybe that would deter her.
It seems keys would be hard for seniors to keep track of. Seems AL is using this as an income stream. Lol. When moved to acute AL there was no key. MC has no keys.
Does she hide things? Look in her shoes, inside socks, in blankets. Hard to believe they are just gone. Hard to believe staff has never found.
These lost keys are all in her apartment somewhere.....go look for them. My mother claimed everything was stolen until I'd go into her place and find it.
If need be and if possible, make copies of the keys as suggested.
The AL needs to make accommodations for residents with dementia, that's my opinion on the matter. It's only natural to run into this situation over and OVER again for admin, so their remedy is to keep charging $35 a pop? My mom's AL and MC gave me, the POA a set of keys also to have available. Do you get an extra set?
Best of luck
FYI...some mentioned Memory Care. In my dad's case they said they wouldn't recommend it because he was too "active" and mobile and he would disrupt the other residents in MC.
Will the facility allow her to keep a key lock box on her door? If so then the next time she loses them you can talk her through opening the box and getting the spare. Then walk her through dropping the key into a jar labeled SPARE KEY. You can retrieve the key and replace it in the box at next time you visit.
If you aren't local to her, then see if you can supply the facility with privately made keys, if they allow this, or have the admin leave a secret spare resting above her doorframe where it can't be seen. I hope you can find a solution that works!
See All Answers