Two years ago I moved my mom into an ALF 40 miles away. At the time she was able to ambulate somewhat, but was a fall risk because she refused to use her walker. Over time she has declined until she is essentially bedridden and her dementia has worsened. She is on hospice care, is in diapers and requires assistance eating. Before she became confined to her bed the aides helped her get dressed each morning and helped her into her pjs each night. Now I have discovered that her clothes may only get changed once or twice a week and she sleeps in whatever she happens to be wearing. I placed a "granny cam" in her room with the approval of the director a week ago. Over the weekend her diaper was changed twice a day and never at night. The hospice CNA gave her a bath Friday and changed her shirt, which she then wore & slept in until Monday morning when it was changed. One of my friends has suggested that I am expecting too much by wanting her shirt changed daily (she doesn't wear pants because of the diaper & the fact that she is in bed). I've been told that as long as she's getting her meals and diaper changed I should be satisfied. Am I wrong to want her in clean clothes?
(Have YOU checked for pressure sores?)
Changing clothes is not as important as changing a brief, soiled bedding if the clothes are not soiled.
When my Husband was confined to bed I cut the back of his shirts so that I could slip his arms in and that way it looked like he had a shirt on but there was no extra fabric at his back. I did the same with his pants, I cut out the seat so that I could pull them up and tuck around his waist so it looked like he had pants on but again no excess fabric.
It is extra layers of fabric and the wrinkles in the fabric that can cause marks and irritation to the skin. So the less fabric the better.
So as long as Mom's dignity is in place, she is covered when people come into the room, having a gown, or even a light blanket or sheet over her is enough. If she seems cold then another blanket but the less fabric under the better.
I am surprised that they are doing this in Assisted Living, usually this is getting to Memory Care or Skilled Nursing. (memory care will do more than AL) Often in AL or even Memory Care depending on the regulations they may not be able to use equipment to move your Mom and if this is the case it might be best to transfer her to a Skilled Nursing facility where they can use equipment.
I should say many facilities will keep a resident once they are on Hospice so the fact that they are not asking for a transfer this might be the reason
My LO's hospice aid comes 3 days a week to bathe and change clothes of my LO. (Hospice nurse comes once a week.) The facility baths and changes her the other days. Her depends are changed every two hours. She is placed in her wheelchair that reclines, back if necessary, every morning.( Hospice provided it.) And her time in it is alternated with naps a couple of times per day. She has had no skin break down. They take her pants off when she's napping and put them back on when she gets back in the wheelchair. I know it's a lot of work, but, I can't imagine not keeping her clothes fresh. It's a matter of dignity and respect, as well as hygiene.
I am looking into facilities for my mom. Assisted living close to me as I plan to see her often. You found a good one! I hope I do too. Any advice for me? Thanks for sharing your story with OP and us. I agree with your answer, especially about dignity.