How to Protect Valuables in a Nursing Home

Practical Tips for Keeping Personal Items in LTC Facilities

Nov 5, 2009

Confused Resident May Wear Someone Else's Dentures, Werneuchen

Learn how to avoid being the victim of theft in a nursing home and what to do if items are stolen.

Many residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities may find that their personal items are missing, and many of these victims remain silent and may not understand their rights or how to proceed with reporting and documenting a theft. According to “Resident Rights” on the Medicare.gov web site, a nursing home resident has “the right to privacy, and to keep and use your personal belongings and property as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights, health, or safety of others.”

Finding a Missing Personal Possession in a Nursing Home

Some missing items are merely misplaced. A thorough search of the room or areas since the item was last seen is a wise first step. Items may easily be lost in a variety of areas, such as:

bed linens
on the floor
in a drawer or closet
under other items on the bedside table
in spaces between wheelchair and/or chair cushions

Many facilities have a lost-and-found area in which unclaimed items may be stored. If the missing item might have been in or on a movable item, check appropriate areas such as the laundry or kitchen to see if the item may have been sent to another area by mistake.

If a search does not reveal the lost item, it may be helpful to see if any residents with a form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, might have wandered into the room. Sometimes these residents may carry or wear someone else’s possessions to other areas of the facility.

Reporting Theft in Nursing Homes

Nursing homes should have a policy regarding how to report theft, and the victim or his representative should notify the appropriate staff member and complete a report with requested information. The report should be in writing and should be completed as soon after the incident as possible.

Although many people are tempted to remain quiet regarding misappropriation of property in a LTC facility, unreported thefts lead to many other problems. The person may continue to illegally take items from the same person multiple times or may steal from others. Petty theft may also escalate to more serious crimes. A lack of reporting hampers the facility from being able to track trends, which may help to narrow down a search for perpetrators.

Residents may request that the facility take responsibility for replacing the item or appropriate compensation. Many facilities have insurance that covers theft. Some homeowner insurance policies may also cover theft in a nursing home, so reviewing one’s personal policy might be worthwhile. A report might also be made to a local law enforcement agency, and residents may wish to file a claim in court. Consulting with the facility’s ombudsman may provide additional avenues for reporting stolen items.

Ways to Help Prevent Theft in a Long Term Care Facility

Nursing home residents can help protect their valuables by:

Making a list of all personal items and updating the list appropriately
Labeling clothing and other personal items with a permanent marker
Engraving identifying information on objects such as dentures and televisions
Storing items that are not labeled in clearly marked containers
Keeping certain valuables or cash locked in the facility’s safe or in an individual safe in the room
Looking at the possibility of starting a “Neighborhood Watch” program in conjunction with law enforcement in which residents agree to help one another by observing and reporting suspicious activity
Problem-solving with staff if confused residents are wandering and taking items – some people with Alzheimer's can understand a "do not enter" sign or may not step over a painted line on the floor, etc.
Some small GPS systems that can be attached or placed inside of an item might help to track the location of the item.
Considering consulting an area lawyer regarding the legality of using a hidden camera or “granny cam”

Communicating effectively with family members or friends who might be delivering or removing items may also be an important step in avoiding any misunderstandings regarding the location of valuables and personal items.

Protecting Valuables in a Nursing Home

Nursing home residents often have few possessions due to space limitations, but many of those items have sentimental and/or monetary value. Residents have the right to keep their personal items and should not have to fear having them stolen. By utilizing proactive steps to help deter the theft of items and by properly reporting stolen items, perhaps all residents of the long-term care facility will benefit by having a safer home that protects the facility’s greatest valuable of all – the residents.

Readers may wish to read other related articles:

MRSA in Nursing Home Residents includes helpful information for preventing these resistant infections in long term care facilities
Hip Fracture Prevention – Tips for Seniors talks about risk factors and practical tips to help people avoid this common health problem
Safe Use of Prescription and OTC Meds shows how to ensure that medications are appropriate and not duplicated or interacting with other medications

Readers are welcome to share their own stories in the comment box below.

The copyright of the article How to Protect Valuables in a Nursing Home in Seniors' Health/Medicare is owned by Katrena Wells. Permission to republish How to Protect Valuables in a Nursing Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.